Looming crisis

The World Summit on Food Security convenes next week in Rome. What will it take to produce enough food to feed the world? More food? But with agriculture turning less and less profitable, given fluid conditions of soil and water, things are not exactly conducive for increasing production.

According to Reuters, a hotspot for food security in the 21st century is India. Here, agriculture's share of India's economy continues to shrink, down to 17.5 percent from almost 30 percent in the 1990s. With no changes in farming practices, things have been a status quo. The National Sample Survey Organization found that 40 percent of Indian farmers would quit farming, if they could.

Should a second Green Revolution be ringed in by biotechnology? Or will it require a change in cropping patterns and crops?

Environmental damage from pesticides and fertilizers, over exploitation of groundwater, have made the going tough. The lessons from the Green Revolution have most experts wary of jumping into GM crops. Loss of biodiversity apart, have we enough evidence of safety? Should groundwater be regulated?

Will urban farming become a reality? If we can grow potatoes and tomatoes and a few other vegetables in our backyard in big cans, can it not help? Pitch in with your ideas on how to produce more, at less cost to the environment.