Food Security in a World of Natural Resource Scarcity: The Role of Agricultural Technologies

Image: No-Till Agriculture

Event Information

Dr. Mark Rosegrant, Director of the Environment and Production Technology Division of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) presented the results of a new report, Food Security in a World of Natural Resource Scarcity.

The study measures the impacts of agricultural innovation on farm yields, prices, hunger, and trade under various climate scenarios in 2050, and identifies practices that could significantly benefit developing nations. Using a first-of-its-kind data model, IFPRI examines 11 agricultural practices and technologies and how they could help farmers around the world improve the productivity and sustainability of growing three of the world’s main staple crops – maize, rice, and wheat.
 
The technologies profiled are: crop protection, drip irrigation, drought tolerance, heat tolerance, integrated soil fertility management, no-till farming, nutrient-use efficiency, organic agriculture, precision agriculture, sprinkler irrigation, and water harvesting. Report findings indicate that targeted application of key technologies such as no-till, heat tolerance, and crop protection can significantly increase developing world yields and slash food prices by 2050.
 
Dr. Rosegrant also showcased the Agritech Toolbox, a comprehensive online tool that allows users to explore the results of the study and visualize where different technologies can improve global, regional, and national food security and sustainability.

Speakers

Mark W.

Headshot: Mark Rosegrant

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Mark W. Rosegrant is the Director of the Environment and Production Technology Division at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington, DC. With a PhD in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, he has extensive experience in research and policy analysis in agriculture and economic development, with an emphasis on water and other natural resource and agricultural policy issues as they impact food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. He currently directs research on climate change, water resources, sustainable land management, genetic resources and biotechnology, and agriculture and energy. He is the author or editor of 7 books and over 100 papers in agricultural economics, water resources, and food policy analysis. Dr. Rosegrant has won numerous awards, such as Outstanding Journal Article (2008), Quality of Communications Award (2004), and Distinguished Policy Contribution Award (2002) awarded by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (formerly American Agricultural Economics Association); and Best Article Award (2005) from the International Water Resources Association. Dr. Rosegrant is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

Julie Howard

Headshot: Julie Howard

USAID Bureau for Food Security

Julie A. Howard is the Chief Scientist in the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Food Security, which leads the implementation of Feed the Future, the U.S. global hunger and food security initiative. She also serves as Senior Advisor to the USAID Administrator on Agricultural Research, Extension and Education. In this role, she oversees the implementation of the Feed the Future research strategy and leads related new programs to advance innovation in global food security efforts, working with both global and national partners. She previously served as Deputy Coordinator for Development for Feed the Future, where she led a core team in elevating interagency engagement in Feed the Future strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Before joining USAID in 2011, she served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa, an independent nonprofit coalition dedicated to increasing the level and effectiveness of U.S. assistance and private investment through research, dialogue and advocacy. She is also the co-author, with Emmy Simmons, of “Improving the Effectiveness of U.S. Assistance in Transforming the Food Security Outlook in Sub-Saharan Africa” in Jennifer Clapp and Marc Cohen, (eds.), The Global Food Crisis: Governance Challenges and Opportunities (2009). Howard served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Repub-lic, and has written on agricultural technology development and transfer, the development of seed and fertilizer systems, and the role of farmer associations in agricultural development in Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Somalia. She holds a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Michigan State University, and master’s and undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Davis, and The George Washington University.

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