The role of trade and sustainable intensification to achieve global food security with less carbon emission and more carbon sequestration


According to some estimates food production needs to increase 60% by 2050 to meet the expected demand and assure food security for all. In order to meet this target and simultaneously achieve the carbon emission targets set in the Paris agreement it is necessary to restructure agricultural production in a substantial way. Lower carbon emissions per unit of product can be achieved by a global initiative to expand sustainable intensification of production especially in the more productive lands of the world. This will require: a) better estimates on carbon emission and sequestration in different agricultural lands, b) a strong international initiative to develop, promote and finance the development and adoption of new technologies that support and make possible a global sustainable intensification strategy and c) an efficient and open agricultural trade system that addresses the growing geographical imbalances between food production and food needs contributing to lower global carbon emission by agriculture.

Task Force: Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture