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The Future Challenges of Food and Agriculture: An Integrated Analysis of Trends and Solutions

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  • Ozgul Calicioglu

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 00153 Rome, Italy
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA)

  • Alessandro Flammini

    (United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Vienna A-1400, Austria)

  • Stefania Bracco

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 00153 Rome, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Bellù

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 00153 Rome, Italy)

  • Ralph Sims

    (School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand)

Abstract

The availability, access, utilization and stability of food supply over time are the four pillars of food security which support nutrition outcomes. Addressing the issues raised globally around these pillars remains a challenge. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2017 report “ The future of food and agriculture: trends and challenges ” outlined the challenges which will have to be addressed in order for sustainable agricultural services to cost-effectively meet the growing food demand of the world population. In this study, we systematically analyzed the future challenges of the agriculture and food systems by focusing on (1) their root causes and trends; and (2) the interlinkages among the solutions proposed to address the challenges using social network analysis tools. It found that, if trends leading to extreme poverty are reversed, several other challenges will also be partially addressed and that climate change has the highest impact on the network of trends. Improving food security would have positive impacts on food access and utilization. The clear outline of the qualitative relationships among challenges presented and insights will help their prioritization by decision makers. However, additional in-depth quantitative analysis is necessary before measures identified to tackle the challenges could be effectively implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Ozgul Calicioglu & Alessandro Flammini & Stefania Bracco & Lorenzo Bellù & Ralph Sims, 2019. "The Future Challenges of Food and Agriculture: An Integrated Analysis of Trends and Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:222-:d:194839
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    References listed on IDEAS

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