Opportunities and challenges for research on food and nutrition security and agriculture in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe
These four reports by the InterAcademy Partnership highlight opportunities and challenges for research on food and nutrition security and agriculture in Africa (PDF), Asia, the Americas (PDF) and Europe (PDF). An overarching lesson is that science, technology and innovation (STI) are key in agricultural development and food and nutrition security. In Africa, it is recognised that transformation of agriculture and food systems is needed. STI offer many opportunities for addressing the main constrains to embrace the transformation in Africa. Many existing, new and emerging technologies could support the diversification of African agriculture and food systems to increase efficiency of policies and programmes, agricultural systems, food systems and improve human nutrition and health. A key finding in the report of Asia is that there is an urgent need to form and fund inter-disciplinary cooperative research and education programmes, mustering the best talent and resources from across the region, to tackle targeted areas for knowledge development. In Asia, science and technology occupy centre stage ass well in addressing future food and nutrition security. Key findings in the Americas includes the key role STI play as well, in agricultural development, in the provision of nutritious foods and the guarantee of food security. Further, Americas face major challenges in environmental degradation. Addressing these will require STI investment. Finally, broader international cooperation is essential to achieve food and nutrition security in the Americas. In Europe overconsumption leading to overweight and obesity is the major public health problem. It is necessary to have diversity in food systems and dietary intakes. Taking account of accruing scientific evidence, changing dietary consumption could bring co-benefits to health and climate change. It is urgent to continue to build critical mass in research and innovation and to mobilise that resource in advising policymakers and other stakeholders.