Why we must produce more food with less water
World Water Day 2012: ‘Water and food security’
Climate change is increasing the potential for drought or excessive rainfall and flooding, which can both destroy crops, including in areas of Europe. Climate smart agriculture will be an essential part of addressing these challenges. Due in part to the pressure on natural resources, like water and land, and the effects of climate change, food prices will continue to experience volatility, raising concerns about food security. The EU has a responsibility to increase its agricultural productivity while using less water and other inputs, a goal that biotech crops can help achieve.
“To Europe, food security once meant feeding its own population. Now, however, we need to view food security in terms of our responsibility towards not only ourselves but the rest of the world,” remarked Carel du Marchie Sarvaas, Director of Green Biotechnology Europe.
“Numerous international organisations continue to emphasise that sustainable intensification is the way forward; we must produce more food while using natural resources more efficiently. Agricultural innovation undoubtedly has an important role to play in meeting these challenges,” he concluded.
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