Food Security Innovation: Research by Robert Bertram, USAID

Food Security Innovation: Research

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3 Major Research Programs

IntegratedCross-Cutting Programs

Program anchoring research in key farmingsystems

Program for Safe and Nutritious Foods

Program for PolicyResearch and Support

Program for Human and Institutional Capacity Building

We have to intensify agriculture, but sustainably

• The challenge is to achieve sustainable transformation via smallholder farmers

• Existing and future technologies are essential

• Context for technology scale-up is crucial

• Integration of multiple technologies is needed

• Single crops, low diversity

• Extended periods of unprotected soil

• Poor water management

Low intensity cropping systems

• Extend the growing season

• Integrate perennial crops

• Integrate legumes for nitrogen

Infiltration

Uptake

Drainage

Intercropping with a legume

Nutrient recycling

• Integrate livestock & aquaculture

• Appropriately scaled mechanization

Integrating more complex practices

Infiltration

Uptake

Drainage

Climate change: adaptation & mitigation

• Better water management• Greater diversification to

reduce risk • Improved input efficiency -

fewer GHG emissions

• Greater soil carbon and nitrogen levels offset GHG

• Reduced land conversion

Evaporation

Uptake

Drainage

Improved nutritional quality through biofortification of cereals/legumes (including as fodder)

Tolerance to higher temperaturesImproved photosynthetic efficiency (on the longer horizon)

Maintain productivity with less water, including tolerance to moderate droughtMore efficient usage of soil nitrogen(both organic and synthetic)Tolerant of more saline soils & brackish water (including removing salt from soils)

Reduce tillage through biotech-enabled weed management

Innovations in plant breeding

Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia

Transforming production systems in Africa through Sustainable Intensification

• Maize-legume-livestock systems in East and Southern Africa

• Crop livestock systems in Ethiopian Highlands

• Cereal based farming systems in West Africa

Africa RISING

africa-rising.net

www.feedthefuture.gov