Global Perspectives on Agriculture: Food Security and Nutrition

Abstract

Increasing global demands for food have necessitated a comprehensive and informed approach to meet food and nutritional security. Agricultural policies framed a few decades back were aimed at the production and availability of surplus staple food crops. Green Revolution, as an outcome of the successful implementation of science, technology, strategy, and distribution, helped the world to feed the people. The rising monotony in agricultural staple food crops leads us to the trap of malnourishment and hidden pangs of hunger. Agricultural challenges and mitigation strategies need to be reframed for integrated and planned efforts spanning the complete agricultural cycle ranging from production to the distribution of agricultural products without neglecting effective waste management. Current scenario of increasing global populations, dwindling resources, and scarce reuse/recycle practices highlights the need to employ such frugal steps actively throughout the world. In addition to critical innovations in scientific methods and techniques, effective management of infrastructure, distribution of farm products, waste treatment, skill development of the workforce, and engaging collaborations between public and private sectors would help equip farmers and producers to meet the increasing food security challenges. Moreover, effective and dynamic policies need to be tailored and implemented, which would cater to a wide array of economic, geographical, and resource availability for different regions of the world. This chapter briefly explains the building blocks of agriculture and efficient integration among them in terms of global food and nutritional security.