Challenges for Agricultural Research

This publication presents the twenty papers delivered at the conference. They highlight recent major progress in agricultural research outcomes and address the challenges that lie ahead.



As the world has changed during the past 50 years, so has agriculture. And so has agricultural research, which continues to confront new challenges, from food security to ecological concerns to land use issues. Indeed, as Guy Paillotin, the former president of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) has noted, agricultural research "has reached new heights in biology and is exploring other disciplines. It is forever changing, as are the needs of the society".

The changing challenges faced by agricultural research were examined in depth at a conference organised by the OECD’s Co-operative Research Programme on Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, together with the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture. Participants came from all agricultural sectors and included farmers, industry, scientists and decision makers, as well as other stake holders.

Table of contents
Abbreviations
Executive Summary
Report from the CRP Reflection Group meeting on “Vision for the Future”
Part I. Coping with Pressures on Natural Resources (Water and Soil)
Chapter 1. Balancing Global Agricultural Water Supply and Demand
More food
More water because of changing diets
Scenarios of future water for food demand
Role of rainfed agriculture
Productivity improvements in irrigated areas
Trade
Challenges
Chapter 2. Effect of Reduced Water Supplies on Food Production Economies
Drivers for water scarcity
Importance of “new” challenges for agricultural water availability
Role of agricultural productivity
Conclusions
Chapter 3. Global Soil Resource Base: Degradation and Loss to Other Uses
Introduction
World population and soil resources
Soil degradation, land degradation and desertification
Determinants of soil degradation
Processes of soil degradation
Cause of soil degradation
Assessment of soil degradation, land degradation and desertification
Soil degradation by land misuse and soil mismanagement
Conversion to other land uses
Strategies to reverse soil and land degradation trends
Conclusion.
Chapter 4. Soil Resources: Science-Based Sustainability
Myth 1: Agriculture should mimic natural systems
Myth 2: Mineral fertilisers are bad
Myth 3: Organic farming can be done anywhere
Myth 4: We know quantitatively the effects of soil use on food production, environmental
degradation and climate change
Part II. Delivering Agriculture for Food and the Environment
Chapter 5. Managing Agricultural Landscapes for Production and Biodiversity Outcomes
Introduction
The ongoing declines in biodiversity
Current approaches to managing interactions between agriculture and biodiversity
Conclusion
Chapter 6. The Role of Genetically Modified Plants in Sustainable Crop Protection
Crop losses by pests and food security
Sustainable crop protection: the concept of IPM
Pest-resistant plants and sustainable crop protection
Pest-resistant plants in an IPM perspective
Conclusions
Challenges to use GM plants in sustainable crop protection
Chapter 7. Science-Based Policy Issues to Enable Sustainability on the Ground
Food comes from the supermarket
Food prices are too high
Purchasing seed every year is a conspiracy by multinational corporations
Rich country agriculture is extremely efficient and thus sustainable
Africa has no chance
Part III. Competition in Agriculture for Food, Fibre and Fuel
Chapter 8. Economic Balance on Competition for Arable Land between Food and Biofuel: Global Responsibilities of Food, Energy and Environmental Security
Food security
Energy security
Biofuels
Challenges
Environmental security
Chapter 9. Genetic Technology, Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Global Climate Change
The global environmental challenge
Global pork production
Pigs and phosphorus pollution
Enhancing phosphorus utilisation and reducing P output in pork production
The EnviropigTM: a genetic technology for meeting the global environmental challenge
Chapter 10. Challenges and Opportunities for Further Improvements in Wheat Yield
Introduction
Can we breed for yield potential with benefits in realistic growing conditions?
What physiological traits may be useful in future improvements of wheat yield potential?
Chapter 11. Replacement of Fish Meal in Aquaculture Diets with Plant Ingredients as a Means of Improving Seafood Quality
Fish metabolic advantages over terrestrial animals
Human health advantages resulting from seafood consumption
Cost of feeds in aquaculture
Cost of individual dietary components
Fish meal replacement
Fish oil replacement
Plant ingredients with novel functions: gossypol, saponins, quercetin, hydroxytyrosol, steroid-inhibitors
Research needs to facilitate wider/larger use of plant ingredients in aquafeeds
Part IV. Food Safety Today and Tomorrow: the Challenges in Changing Food and Farming Practices
Chapter 12. Major Trends in Mycotoxin Research
Introduction
History of mycotoxins and mycotoxicoses
Major mycotoxins
Other important mycotoxins
Research and development priorities
Conclusions
Chapter 13. Food without Zoonotic Agents: Fact or Fiction?
Introduction
Control of infectious diseases
(Re)emerging infectious diseases
Challenges in the control of foodborne diseases
International co-operation and communication
An integrated approach to food safety and zoonoses: global foodborne infections network
Conclusion
Chapter 14. Altering Foods Derived from Animals for the Future?
Decrease production and consumption of animal-derived foods or alter their composition?
Gross composition of animal products
New genetic selection approaches needed
Fatty acid composition of animal-derived foods
Side-effects of improved fatty acid composition
Altering the content of other minor compounds in animal-derived foods
Conclusions and additional considerations
Chapter 15. Plants for the Future
Ten thousand years of genetically modified plants
Biotechnology as a coherent answer to these challenges
Policy framework priorities 212
Public perception and regulatory framework
Chapter 16. Genetic Resources as the Building Blocks for Breeding: Current Status and Challenges
Introduction
Challenges ahead
Conclusions
Part V. Regulatory Challenges
Chapter 17. Animal Biotechnology in the United States: the Regulation of Animal Clones and Genetically Engineered Animals
Introduction
Regulation of animal clones
Regulation of genetically engineered animals
Summary
Chapter 18. Animal Cloning and Transgenesis
Introduction
Animal cloning
Animal transgenesis
General conclusions
Chapter 19. The Biotechnology and Biosafety Activities at the OECD
Introduction
Environmental risk/safety assessment of transgenic organisms
Risk/safety assessment of foods and feeds derived from transgenic organisms
Conclusions
Chapter 20. Biosafety Assessment of the EFSA GMO Panel
Introduction
The role of the scientific panel on GMO
Risk assessment of GMO
Legal background for the risk assessment of GMOs, GM food and GM feed at European Community level
Outlook