Fernando H. Andrade, member of the AWAF Scientific Committee, recently spoke at the Aapresid Congress https://www.aapresid.org.ar/congreso, the Argentine association of direct seeding producers (Aapresid), a non-profit non-governmental organization established by a network of agricultural producers who, based on your interest in the conservation of your main resource, the soil, have adopted and promoted the spread of a new type of agriculture that seeks to increase productivity without the negative effects of land, to give an answer to the sustainable production that man has to face today: produce food, fibres and biofuels, keeping economic variables in balance, Ethical, environmental and energy of our society.
Who is Fernando Andrade https://awaf.foundation/bio/fernando-andrade
The main objectives of this presentation are i) emphasize achievements of our species in terms of creativity and innovation, especially those related to food production, Ii) estimate future demand for agricultural products and the possibilities of meeting it in a sustainable manner by drawing on these capacities, Iii) analyse the evolution of poverty and social development indicators.
Creativity is the faculty of creating or inventing something new or of relating known concepts in a novel way away from usual notions and structures of thought.. Innovation is understood as the generation of ideas and inventions and their subsequent use through an application of utility for society.. These qualities, along with the ability to collaborate, they are inherent in our species and as such played a fundamental role in the evolution of humanity and are unassalable in the analysis of the challenges we face today.
Information on the dawn of the genus Homo is presented and discussed, the dispersal of our species around the world, the origin of agriculture, the installation of the scientific method and innovations in agricultural technology, energy and communications of the past. Among those related to agricultural production, the Neolithic revolution stands out., the first investigations into the operation of plants, the agricultural revolution and the green revolution.
The achievements of agriculture over the centuries have been prodigious and worthy of being recognized.. Innovations related to this activity made it possible to meet to a large extent the growing food needs of humanity., even though population growth rates were very high. A well-nourished population is the first requirement for human well-being. Nevertheless, production increases were associated with environmental degradation. The presentation focuses on raising awareness about the need to break this partnership, that is, to meet future demands for agricultural products, while reducing environmental impact. Food production is, then, a central issue for the health of the population and the environment. The discussion assumes ensuring adequate welfare and income for farmers.
This presentation emphasizes the relationship between the human being and the environment, listing and evaluating the effects of human activities and, especially, of agriculture on soil degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, the use of water, and chemical pollution. Also details, the evolution of the human population as a factor that drives production increases and is associated with environmental damage.
It also presents an estimate of the future demand for agricultural products driven mainly by population growth and dietary change., further examining the potential impact of diet morigeration and reduction of food losses and waste.
Strategies to meet future demands include those that result in increases in yield per unit area and time using technologies that tend to higher productivity of available resources and inputs and lower environmental impact.. These include certain hard technologies., but above all, process technologies based on knowledge of crop performance, of the environment, of pest biology, and the complex interactions between the components of the production system.
To conceptualize and quantify the possible contributions of these strategies, examples on genetic improvement and biotechnology are described and presented., ecophysiologically based crop management, increasing the number of crops per year, integrated management of harmful organisms and ecologically based intensification.
The level of compliance with the productive goals is analyzed, environmental and social fixed years ago judging by what has happened in recent years. It concludes on the need to redouble efforts to moderate demands and reduce the negative effects of productive activities on the environment.
In social aspects, poverty as a cause of malnutrition and food insecurity is reflected on and the analysis of human development and equity indicators is deepened.. Information on social development indicators, consumption of goods and services and distribution of the population according to income is integrated into an analysis that allows conclusions to be reached about future needs and savings due to moderation of consumption.
Then, it investigates the capacity for innovation and collaboration of our species and the possibilities of directing these potentialities to solve food problems, environment and poverty facing humanity today. At last, future scenarios based on the laws of the market are proposed, the Malthusian vision or the need for profound changes in values that promote equity and environmental health.
Fernando Hector Andrade
The challenges of global agriculture. F.H. Andrade. 2020. INTA Editions.
Download the PDF for free: https://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/handle/20.500.12123/9137
