Agricultural diversity could help mitigate global food insecurity, flags study

30 Aug 2022 --- A new study has confirmed that agricultural diversity can effectively aid in achieving food security. With countries increasingly facing food insecurity, this study offers insights into viable solutions.

Researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) located in Rome, Italy, analyzed data to build upon agricultural diversity and food security research to solidify its association. 

However, its applications depend on broader socio-economic and biophysical characteristics of local farming systems. 

The researchers found that agricultural diversity benefits food security in almost two-thirds of cases. In the other, one-third of the circumstances, the results were mixed, or they did not find a relationship. 

They achieved these results by examining four dimensions of food security: availability, access, stability and utilization. The researchers found a positive link between agricultural diversity and food security in lower-middle-income countries. 

“I have a number of studies where I find the link between agricultural diversity and food security. Not only is it the driver, but it's the foundation of everything,” says Elizabeth Gotor, principal scientist and agricultural economist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. 

Researchers are looking for solutions as food insecurity rises.

Tapping into diverse systems 
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food security occurs when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. 

Agricultural diversity exists when there is a diversity of crops, livestock breeds, fish species and wild resources, including how these assets are processed and consumed.  

By looking into 88 studies and conducting their research, the authors provided quantitative evidence on the diversity-food security connection.

“If you have a diverse system, you can deal with biotic and abiotic stresses, for example, like the impacts of climate change,” explains Gotor. 

By handling these stresses in a more functional way thanks to agricultural diversity, farmers can create more products which in turn aids in generating food security. 

Forty indices measured the individual relationships between farming diversification and food security to produce the most accurate results. 

“We looked at all the combinations you could think of and how to quantitatively measure between the food security and diversity indicators,” underscores Katharina Waha, senior research scientist in the Global Food and Nutrition Security group at CSIRO in Brisbane, Australia.

Courses of action
Agricultural diversity is the cheapest, in terms of monetary and labor costs, out of the currently available options to reach food security. While diversification is an effectiveAgricultural diversity opens a new door for food security. inexpensive strategy to battle food security, it is not the only option. 

“It is not a necessary characteristic of all agricultural systems at all costs, especially in the presence of other strategies that can potentially achieve similar outcomes,” states the report. 

The best course of action depends on available funds and factors such as climate, vegetation, hydrography and relief.

However, whichever way is the best avenue, solutions are needed. 

In 2021, the UN reported almost 10% of the world population was hungry. In 2022, they said that 20 countries and regions were facing food insecurity. The situation has been worsening over the years. 

Meanwhile, India recently passed restrictions on wheat flour exports due to its surmounting price, which threatened food security. 

The researchers hope they have provided a base for others in the field to think about further research questions and find additional resolutions for food insecurity. 

Edited by Sabine Waldeck