to profitability, ecological health, and social-ethical acceptance gives guidance to
research directions and policy measures. The conceptual framework of a sustainable gap was presented by Fischer et al. (2007b). They suggest a hierarchy of
considerations with the biophysical limits of the Earth setting ultimate boundaries.
The question is, whether this concept with the ‘‘economies’’ embedded in ‘‘human
societies’’ does fit for major food production systems with free trade as drivers at a
global scale. Transitions in agriculture are a response to external and/or internal
‘‘events’’ that provide the incentive for structural change (Godfray et al. 2010a).
Possible events or ‘‘driving forces’’ for transitions in agriculture include gradual
and sudden processes, like population pressure, changes in natural conditions
(climate, diseases, and flooding), changes in markets and market prices, innovations, and applications of new technologies. Transitions in agriculture involve
large-scale structural changes, which have a distinct impact on society. The difficulties in understanding the causes and effects of changes in agriculture arise
from the diversity and complexity of agriculture, and the multitude of factors that
affect agriculture (Godfray et al. 2010a; Spiertz 2010). Demands by society,
economy, and environment determine the direction of change in agriculture.
Decision making requires intensive mutual interaction and discussion to identify
the challenges, trade-offs, discrepancies, and possibilities for synergy. A more
effective strategy for the transition toward sustainable agriculture is setting suitable
goals with clear targets and indicators to measure progress, when the gap between
socioeconomic and ecological targets is too big. To meet the challenges of a global
food security in a sustainable way requires the intensification of knowledgeintensive approaches and the use of modern agrotechnologies and biotechnologies.
1.6 Maximize Yield
In the near future, food availability will be threatened if the right agriculture
measures are not adopted. Currently, the reduction of pesticides to control pests
and pathogens, and the presence of health compounds in food is as important as
food production. There is considerable agreement about the idea that increasing
yields on existing agricultural land is a key component for minimizing further
expansion (Wirsenius et al. 2010).
The world food situation is rapidly redefined by income growth, climate
change, high energy prices, globalization, urbanization, and increased weeds,
pests, and diseases. These issues are transforming food consumption, production,
and ultimately, markets. By 2050, the world population will reach 9.1 billion and
almost all of this population increase will occur in developing countries (Floros
et al. 2010); it means a growth by 34 % from 6.8 billion in 2009. Also, life
expectancy is increasing (Vaupel and Kistowski 2005) and people demand not
only food, but quality food.
Whereas the achievements of global agriculture since the 1960s are among the
greatest success stories, even greater challenges await in feeding more than
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
13
research directions and policy measures. The conceptual framework of a sustainable gap was presented by Fischer et al. (2007b). They suggest a hierarchy of
considerations with the biophysical limits of the Earth setting ultimate boundaries.
The question is, whether this concept with the ‘‘economies’’ embedded in ‘‘human
societies’’ does fit for major food production systems with free trade as drivers at a
global scale. Transitions in agriculture are a response to external and/or internal
‘‘events’’ that provide the incentive for structural change (Godfray et al. 2010a).
Possible events or ‘‘driving forces’’ for transitions in agriculture include gradual
and sudden processes, like population pressure, changes in natural conditions
(climate, diseases, and flooding), changes in markets and market prices, innovations, and applications of new technologies. Transitions in agriculture involve
large-scale structural changes, which have a distinct impact on society. The difficulties in understanding the causes and effects of changes in agriculture arise
from the diversity and complexity of agriculture, and the multitude of factors that
affect agriculture (Godfray et al. 2010a; Spiertz 2010). Demands by society,
economy, and environment determine the direction of change in agriculture.
Decision making requires intensive mutual interaction and discussion to identify
the challenges, trade-offs, discrepancies, and possibilities for synergy. A more
effective strategy for the transition toward sustainable agriculture is setting suitable
goals with clear targets and indicators to measure progress, when the gap between
socioeconomic and ecological targets is too big. To meet the challenges of a global
food security in a sustainable way requires the intensification of knowledgeintensive approaches and the use of modern agrotechnologies and biotechnologies.
1.6 Maximize Yield
In the near future, food availability will be threatened if the right agriculture
measures are not adopted. Currently, the reduction of pesticides to control pests
and pathogens, and the presence of health compounds in food is as important as
food production. There is considerable agreement about the idea that increasing
yields on existing agricultural land is a key component for minimizing further
expansion (Wirsenius et al. 2010).
The world food situation is rapidly redefined by income growth, climate
change, high energy prices, globalization, urbanization, and increased weeds,
pests, and diseases. These issues are transforming food consumption, production,
and ultimately, markets. By 2050, the world population will reach 9.1 billion and
almost all of this population increase will occur in developing countries (Floros
et al. 2010); it means a growth by 34 % from 6.8 billion in 2009. Also, life
expectancy is increasing (Vaupel and Kistowski 2005) and people demand not
only food, but quality food.
Whereas the achievements of global agriculture since the 1960s are among the
greatest success stories, even greater challenges await in feeding more than
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
13