The fragility of food systems: The need for research

Abstract

One of the biggest, if underappreciated, breakthroughs in science of the 20th century was the green revolution, a unique science that merged plant genetics to match technological breakthroughs in water availability, chemical fertilizers and pesticide use. It transformed the landscape, literally, providing food for additional billions and averted fears of wide-spread famine. But by the early part of the 21st century, the gains of the green revolution have been remitted, and a new threat, climate change, posed an existential challenge--not only in feeding the current population, but the additional 2 billion anticipated by mid-century. There has never been a clearer, sharper need to invest in agricultural science, especially for the United States, to provide food security going forward. Yet, at present, high-income countries are reducing their investment in agricultural research. As Covid-19 has shown us, food systems can be tenuous. Food is a universal means to bring us together, but lack of food in an uncertain climate, an absolute means to tear us apart.