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There is one clear opportunity for humanity: boosting agricultural research and development for the poorest half of the planet
One of humanity’s greatest achievements in the past century was a huge increase in food production. From 1900 to 2000, there was a six-fold increase in crop harvests while the global population increased less than four-fold, meaning that on average people today have around 50 per cent more food available than their great-great-grandparents did.
The NP Comment newsletter from columnist Colby Cosh and NP Comment editors tackles the important topics with boldness, verve and wit. Get NP Platformed delivered to your inbox weekdays by 4 p.m. ET.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againMost of the increase came from farmers growing more food from each hectare of land. The extraordinary progress is due to the Green Revolution that turbo-charged modern farming inputs. Estimates are that Nobel Peace Prize-winning agronomist Norman Borlaug, who spearheaded the intensification of modern farming methods, saved more than one billion lives from hunger. As well as feeding people, the Green Revolution made societies much richer. And more-efficient agriculture freed people from backbreaking labour, allowing them to engage in a much broader range of productive activities.Article content The Green Revolution was an extraordinary achievement. But we need a second Green Revolution to reduce global hunger and extend such benefits to the world’s poorest people. We especially need it today as we fall behind on feeding the planet. Since 2016, world leaders have made grand development promises, the “Sustainable Development Goals,” for every country for 2030. One of the most crucial focuses on ways to boost agriculture — from ending hunger to ensuring better nutrition and more sustainable farming.shows that even based on progress before the pandemic’s disruption, politicians’ food promises for 2030 won’t be met for 80 years beyond that, in the early 2100s.Article contentIndeed, the entire world will be late on all its major commitments. In 2023, we are at the halftime mark for our grand promises, but nowhere near halfway on delivery. That’s why my think-tank, the, has been working with some of the world’s best economists to identify the most effective policies for the seven years that remain. If we can’t do everything, we should focus on the smartest solutions in every area — including agriculture and hunger. Our researchers looked at many agricultural policies, like subsidizing fertilizer and increasing irrigation. These all deliver moderate benefits to society but, per dollar invested, the effects are not amazing. But there is one clear opportunity for humanity: a big increase in investment in agricultural research and development .Article content There is still significant underspending on agricultural R&D for poorer countries. Big corporations understandably spend most in rich countries where large-scale farmers have deep pockets. That is why 80 per cent of global agricultural R&D funding went to rich and upper-middle income countries, while lower-middle income countries got only 20 per cent and the world’s poorest countries almost nothing.Bjorn Lomborg: Ill-advised 'net-zero' emissions policies are netting worldwide pain This unequal investment has been persistent for more than half a century. It is a primary reason why the Green Revolution helped wealthier countries more than the poorest. Cereal yields in high-income countries almost tripled from 1961 to 2018, whereas low-income countries saw a much smaller increase of 50 per cent.Article content
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