“Without additional efforts to promote pro-poor development, reduce inequalities and protect vulnerable people, more than 600 million people would still be undernourished in 2030.” This was revealed by the United Nations Organization Food and Agriculture Organization in its new report entitled “The Future of Food and Agriculture: Trends and Challenges”.

Despite welcoming the progress achieved in the past 30 years in reducing hunger worldwide, the institution indicates that there still remain many challenges to overcome in relation to the rational management of natural resources.

“Expanding food production and economic growth have often come at a heavy cost to the natural environment,” states the report.

Given that this growing impact compromises its food production system, the world will not be able to achieve its food security target, without an efficient method of resource management and a more sustainable way to boost production. This two-sided approach is quite necessary given that food needs are to increase significantly as global population expected to exceed 9 billion people, by 2050.

For Africa, which is to drive this growth, the challenge is greater. And though it possesses 60% of non-cultivated areas worldwide, the continent will have to rethink its agricultural production system which currently focuses on expanding agricultural lands instead of looking at boosting productivity.

Espoir Olodo