Global food systems: Can foresight learn from hindsight?
Construction of plausible scenarios for alternative futures of global food systems requires an understanding of how the past led to the present, and the past’s likely relevance to the future. Policy actions affected the past, but are very difficult to foresee. Among those that most shaped global food systems in…
Prospects and challenges of fish for food security in Africa
Fish contribute to Africa’s food and nutrition security, but future directions for the fish sector remain uncertain. Using a structural foresight modeling approach, this paper examines past, present, and future trends of fish supply and demand in Africa to highlight challenges and prospects of the fish sector’s contribution to food…
Latest Posts
Supporting sustainable expansion of livestock production in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa: Scenario analysis of investment options
Growth in demand for livestock-derived foods will likely remain strong in low- and middle- income countries, fueling concerns about expansion of production and the management of natural resources. Recent research suggests that the envisioned negative effects are not inevitable and that benefits such as improved food security can be enhanced.
Understanding the consequences of changes in the production frontiers for roots, tubers and bananas
The widely recognized role of roots, tubers and bananas (RT&Bs) in achieving food security and providing income opportunities in the world’s poorest regions will be challenged by socioeconomic and climate related drivers. These will affect demand and production patterns and increase pressure on farming systems. Foresight results presented in this…
The future of Blue Carbon science
The term Blue Carbon (BC) was first coined a decade ago to describe the disproportionately large contribution of coastal vegetated ecosystems to global carbon sequestration. The role of BC in climate change mitigation and adaptation has now reached international prominence. To help prioritise future research, we assembled leading experts in…
Ecosystem services under future oil palm expansion scenarios in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
This study analyzes the five primary ecosystem services and their trade-offs and synergies associated with future scenarios of oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Three plausible future scenarios were assessed: 1) business as usual, 2) conservation and, 3) sustainable intensification, based on current land-use policy and spatial planning and…
Combining the effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on protein, iron, and zinc availability and projected climate change on global diets: a modelling study
Summary Background Increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) affect global nutrition via effects on agricultural productivity and nutrient content of food crops. We combined these effects with economic projections to estimate net changes in nutrient availability between 2010 and 2050. Methods In this modelling study, we used the International…
Agricultural investments and hunger in Africa modeling potential contributions to SDG2 – Zero Hunger
We use IFPRI’s IMPACT framework of linked biophysical and structural economic models to examine developments in global agricultural production systems, climate change, and food security. Building on related work on how increased investment in agricultural research, resource management, and infrastructure can address the challenges of meeting future food demand, we…
Gaps between fruit and vegetable production, demand, and recommended consumption at global and national levels: an integrated modelling study
Summary Background Current diets are detrimental to both human and planetary health and shifting towards more balanced, predominantly plant-based diets is seen as crucial to improving both. Low fruit and vegetable consumption is itself a major nutritional problem. We aim to better quantify the gap between future fruit and vegetable…
Popular
The Future of Wood: A renewable resource overlooked in the search for sustainability?
The Future of Animal Source Food: Rising demands in Africa
CGIAR Foresight Report Working Papers
Global Food Security Special Issue on Foresight
The Future of Dryland Cereals and Legumes in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa: Climate resilient crops for food security
The Future of Wheat: Could climate-resilience genes be the key to safeguarding the world’s most cultivated crop?
Beans, Beans, and the power of Genes
The Future of Sustainable Development and Agrobiodiversity: Essential for people and the planet
