**6.5 Proposed strategies**

Two recent reviews (Godfray et. al, 2010; Foley, et al., 2011) identify broad strategic approaches to sustainable food security that incorporate to some extent all sides of the issues addressed in Sections 6.1 to 6.4. The suggestions of the two articles overlap to some degree and include the following.


Demand for alternative liquid fuels has driven diversion of cropland to biofuel production, resulting in close coupling between the prices of oil and agricultural commodities illustrated in Figures 8 & 11. Advocates such as Collins & Duffield (2005) are optimistic about the ability of conventional U.S. agriculture to meet world food needs, as well as to make a significant contribution to biofuel production. Sustainability-minded analysts Giampietro & Mayumi (2009), however, argue that biofuels (at least those produced from agricultural crops) reduce food supply, increase CO2 emissions, and retard rural development. Addressing the broader question of meeting a large fraction of human energy needs with biomass, Smil (2010, p. 721) dismisses the idea as an insufferable intrusion on the necessary functioning of the biosphere. Smil does not address specifically either crop residues or grasses as possible biofuel sources, but his general energetic analysis underscores concerns that extensive exploitation these non-crop biological resources would undermine necessary nutrient recycling. Acknowledging the impact of energy prices on food prices and the volatility of food markets, Koning & Mol (2009) call

Two recent reviews (Godfray et. al, 2010; Foley, et al., 2011) identify broad strategic approaches to sustainable food security that incorporate to some extent all sides of the issues addressed in Sections 6.1 to 6.4. The suggestions of the two articles overlap to some degree

 Stop expanding agriculture. The environmental benefits of preserving sensitive ecosystems would outweigh the marginal loss of increasing production, especially in

 Close yield gaps. Improving realized productivity toward what is achievable with locally available genetic material, technology, and management could improve yields in many regions by tens of percent. This is the thrust of the sustainable intensification efforts discussed in Section 6.1, though there are many complexities and necessary

 Increase agricultural resource efficiency. Careful management of both water and nutrient inputs can avoid both deficiencies and excess applications that produce environmental degradation. Great scope exists for more precise applications in time

 Increase production limits. Greater yields would result from optimizing cultivars for specific conditions, especially those in developing countries, by conventional plant breeding or genetic engineering. Preservation of agricultural biodiversity, especially of

Expand aquaculture. This initiative would continue current trends, but also focus on

locally adapted crops and livestock, is an important component of this effort. Increase food delivery by shifting diets and reducing waste. Limiting diversion of crops to uses such as animal feed and biofuel production would increase the amount available for direct human consumption. Likewise, the 30% or more of harvested food

lost to pests, degradation, and discard could feed many more people.

minimizing environmental impacts.

**6.4 Competition with biofuels** 

**6.5 Proposed strategies** 

and include the following.

the tropics.

local variations.

and space.

for new institutions to balance food and energy markets.

Godfray et al. (2010, p. 817) conclude by stating, "The goal is no longer simply to maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more complex landscape of production, environmental, and social justice outcomes." Figure 12 vividly illustrates the challenge.

Notably, neither of these reviews acknowledges possible fossil fuel scarcity and high costs as challenges to food security.

Fig. 12. Qualitative comparison of (a) the present state of global agriculture and (b) projection for meeting food security and environmental goals for 2050 (Foley et al., 2011.)
