A Sustainability Challenge

The National Research Council's Science and Technology for Sustainability Program hosted two workshops in 2011 addressing the sustainability challenges associated with food security for all. The first workshop, Measuring Food Insecurity and Assessing the Sustainability of Global Food Systems, explored the availability and quality of commonly used indicators for food security and malnutrition; poverty; and natural resources and agricultural productivity. It was organized around the three broad dimensions of sustainable food security: (1) availability, (2) access, and (3) utilization. The workshop reviewed the existing data to encourage action and identify knowledge gaps. The second workshop, Exploring Sustainable Solutions for Increasing Global Food Supplies, focused specifically on assuring the availability of adequate food supplies. How can food production be increased to meet the needs of a population expected to reach over 9 billion by 2050? Workshop objectives included identifying the major challenges and opportunities associated with achieving sustainable food security and identifying needed policy, science, and governance interventions. Workshop participants discussed long term natural resource constraints, specifically water, land and forests, soils, biodiversity and fisheries. They also examined the role of knowledge, technology, modern production practices, and infrastructure in supporting expanded agricultural production and the significant risks to future productivity posed by climate change. This is a report of two workshops. Table of ContentsFront MatterOVERVIEWPART I: MEASURING FOOD INSECURITY AND ASSESSING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEMS--INTRODUCTION[Part I]: 1 METRICS FOR FOOD INSECURITY AND MALNUTRITION[Part I]: 2 MEASURES OF GLOBAL POVERTY[Part I]: 3 NATURAL RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY[Part I]: 4 THE WAY FORWARD[Part I]: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY[Part I]: WORKSHOP AGENDA[Part I]: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS[Part I]: SPEAKER BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION[Part I]: ANNEX A: WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW? METRICS FOR FOOD INSECURITY AND MALNUTRITION[Part I]: ANNEX B: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS CITED IN THE REPORTPART II: EXPLORING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLIES--INTRODUCTION[Part II]: 1 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES[Part II]: 2 APPROACHES TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY[Part II]: 3 POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND INSTITUTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS[Part II]: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY[Part II]: WORKSHOP AGENDA[Part II]: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS[Part II]: SPEAKER BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATIONAPPENDIX A: COMMITTEE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATIONAPPENDIX B: ROUNDTABLE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY