http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Sask+lead+food+security/7691743/story.html#ixzz2EweQTgnt
Wall is premier of Saskatchewan, Busch-Vishniac is president of the University of Saskatchewan, and Doyle is president and CEO of PotashCorp.
Living in Saskatchewan, we are blessed in many ways and with many resources. For the majority of people who live in our province, that includes abundant and affordable food. Issues of food security tend to remain in the background until a famine in Africa becomes front-page news, or trade disputes affect prices at our local grocery stores.
While we live oceans away from areas commonly affected by issues of food security, we can be at the heart of long-term and sustainable solutions. This is important to our future – not only in Saskatchewan and Canada but as part of a larger global community.
Put into the context of our global village, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) confirms that one in seven people go to sleep hungry every night, and that one-third of food produced is simply lost or wasted.
Food Aid and Security, a policy organization based in the United States, estimates that 30 countries are in crisis and need international assistance due to crop failures, conflicts, natural disasters, and high domestic food prices.
Meanwhile, it says, half of all child deaths in developing countries are related to malnutrition and hunger.
With the world’s population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, the food system itself will need to change dramatically to deliver more nutritious food effectively to consumers.
When considered against the OECD estimate that agricultural production must increase by 70 per cent over the next 40 years to meet rising demand for food, it is clear that we must efficiently and effectively use all the resources at our disposal to find solutions. It is no longer “their” problem that “someone else” will solve.
There are multiple facets to global food production that must be addressed concurrently to avoid a full-blown crisis in the world that our children will inherit. We can start with technological innovations for crops and soil, but we must also improve the supply and access channels as well.
In fact, if we can increase the efficiency of food distribution, we can make food more available and affordable for more people around the world. Better practices for harvesting and storage can also have a material effect on food security.
As an example, by enhancing knowledge regarding the drying and storing of grains, we can reduce crop exposure to rodents, parasites and other losses, and ultimately decrease food waste. At the same time, local, regional and global policy initiatives must be integrated and contemplate all sides of the equation, including research, agricultural productivity, and natural resource and social protection programs to achieve improved food security.
There are areas of proven expertise in Saskatchewan. We have an exceptional track record of innovation in research and development, and at the producer level. Our commitment to investing in this world-class thinking has delivered numerous breakthroughs in crop research and production, as well as in agricultural policies that can serve a growing world.
As a province we can build on these strengths and share them with the world – for the benefit of people here and in other countries.
We know agriculture. As a successful food exporter, agricultural research innovator, and producer of one of the world’s most important crop nutrients, Saskatchewan can play a major role in increasing and enhancing the global food supply and system.
The recently announced public-private partnership with the University of Saskatchewan, the province of Saskatchewan, and PotashCorp to establish the Saskatchewan-based Global Institute for Food Security is an important step in this mission.
This new institute builds on Saskatchewan’s natural, intellectual and infrastructural resources, and positions Saskatchewan to simultaneously benefit from the increasing global demand for agricultural products while meeting its social responsibilities as a good global citizen.
Our prairie innovation, commitment and ingenuity all have a role to play in tackling global food security, and our collaborative spirit will ensure that we are not only the leader in innovating for Canada’s food needs, but also the world’s.
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