Global Agricultural Productivity Report

In News

• According to the recent Global Agricultural Productivity Report, global agricultural productivity is not growing as fast as the demand for food, amid the impact of climate change.

Key Highlights

• Rising Demand: During the next 30 years, demand for food and agricultural goods, including meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables, timber, oilseeds for cooking and industrial uses will increase.
• Depleting Resources: At the same time, the natural resource base and ecosystems are under stress from climate change, soil degradation, and poor water management. 
• Varying Productivity: Productivity growth rates vary significantly by region and country.
• Many Obstacles: Poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition remain stubbornly high, condemning hundreds of millions of people to ill health and unfulfilled potential. 
• Increased Productivity is Must: Accelerating productivity growth at all scales of production is imperative to meet the needs of consumers and address current and future threats to human and environmental well-being. 

Image Courtesy: GAP 

GAP Initiative

• Mission: 
  • The Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Initiative is central to the mission of CALS Global in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): 
    • build partnerships, 
    • drive thought-leadership, and 
    • create opportunities for students and faculty to serve globally.
• Release & Data:
  • The report was released in conjunction with the World Food Prize Foundation’s annual conference.
  • It primarily made use of  data from the United States Department of Agriculture.
• Opportunities: 
  • In addition to producing this annual assessment of global progress toward productive, sustainable agricultural systems, the GAP Initiative creates opportunities for collaboration and learning between its partners, the university, and stakeholders worldwide.
• Stakeholder: 
  • The GAP Initiative brings together experts from the private sector, NGOs, conservation and nutrition organizations, universities, and global research institutions. 
• Total Factor Productivity (TFP):
  • TFP tracks changes in how efficiently agricultural inputs such as land, labour, fertiliser, feed, machinery and livestock are transformed into outputs like crops, livestock and aquaculture products.
  • TFP growth is influenced by climate change, weather events, changes in fiscal policy, market conditions, investments in infrastructure and agricultural research and development.
• Partners: 
  • Supporting Partners provide financial support and serve on the Leadership Council, offering essential perspectives on critical issues facing agricultural systems worldwide. 
  • Consultative Partners contribute their knowledge of agricultural R&D and extension, natural resource conservation, human nutrition, international development, gender equity, and the needs of small-scale farmers.                                                                                                    

Image Courtesy: GAP 

Way Ahead

• Accelerate investments in agricultural research and development to increase and preserve productivity gains, especially for small farmers.
• Report identified six strategies and policies that would create sustainable agricultural growth at all scales of production:
  • Invest in agricultural research and development
  • Embrace science-and-information-based technologies
  • Improve infrastructure for transportation, information and finance
  • Cultivate partnerships for sustainable agriculture, economic growth and improved nutrition
  • Expand and improve local, regional and global trade
  • Reduce post-harvest loss and food waste.

Source: DTE