Why is sustainability not yet second nature?

This week marks the launch of the new CGIAR research portfolio. Izabella Koziell, WLE Program Director, lays out the ambitions of the program.

This week marks the launch of the new CGIAR research portfolio. Izabella Koziell, Program Director, lays out the ambitions of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).

We face a familiar challenge

Global food demand is growing and is projected to, by 2050, increase by at least 60% above 2006 levels. In response to this demand, new technologies and increased inputs have contributed to farm system intensification, leading to significant yield gains and advances in food security. However, growing evidence shows that intensification is at the expense of multiple other social and environmental concerns.

Today, agriculture is a major contributor to the ongoing degradation of the environment. More than 70% of global freshwater is used for food production, and unsustainable use of fertilizer and pesticides contributes to water pollution. A fourth of the world‘s land area is or is on its way to being highly degraded. Despite this, one in nine people still go hungry.

If we do not act quickly in reversing these trends, environmental degradation is likely to reach tipping points after which the water, land and other ecosystem services necessary to meet future food demands will be irreversibly lost.

Read the full post on the WLE Blog.

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