Future Food Security: Who Will be Farming and How? Laurette Dubé, Valerie Orsat, and Collaborators McGill Institute for Global Food Security: Conference on Global Food Security October 28 th, 2015 1
MCCHE and Convergent Innovation Coalition Transforming Traditional and Modern World Through Food S.T.I.P.T. Science, Technology, Innovation, Practice and Tradition Food people need Citizen Food the planet can sustain Food people are willing and able to pay for Consumer Patient Food the farmer and value chain are able and willing to produce Food people want S.T.I.P.T. in Nutrition, Health, and Disease S.T.I.P.T. in Ingredients, Taste, and Sensory Technology S.T.I.P.T. in Animal and Plant Breeding Food CI Sweet Spot S.T.I.P.T. in Packaging, Transportation, Retail, Service, and Consumption S.T.I.P.T. in Farm and Food Processing S.T.I.P.T.Pipelines In Digital Technologies, Media, and Advanced Analytics One World Convergence of Agriculture, Health, and Wealth 2
Agenda Who are farmers and how do they farm now? (Global, Can, USA, India, Ethiopia) 4 Drivers of How They Will be Farming to Target CI sweet spot ICT enabled ecosystem development that remain anchored in farm Redefining points of value creation and capture between farmers and eaters: farmer as entrepreneur and food innovator Smoother Urban/Peri Urban/Rural farming continuum Deeper and broader women friendliness in farm, food, health and society Challenges and possibility for science, policy and innovation 3
Who are the Farmers and How do They Farm Now? 4
Global (off the FAO press) 80% of the world food is produced by family farmers 72% of farms worldwide are less than 1 hectar 6% of farms worldwide are larger than 5 hectars 5
Canada s Changing Farming Demographic between 1991 and 2011 Decrease in the number of farms to 205,730 from 280,043. Decrease in the number of farm operators by 24.8%. Increase in the size of the farms to 778 acres from 598. Increase in the average age of the farmer to 54.0 y/o from 47.5 y/o. Increase in the number of women operators, now at 27.8%. 6
Type of Farming and Median Income for Canadian Farming Families Type of Farming Percent Median Income ($CA) Poultry and Egg Production 2.1 $90,250 Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture Production 3.9 $82,473 Oilseed and Grain Farming 29.7 $80,865 Fruit and Tree Nut Farming 4.1 $80,505 Other Animal Production 11.3 $77,587 Vegetable and Melon Farming 2.6 $76,608 Other Crop Farming 17.3 $71,544 Hog and Pig Farming 1.7 $68,594 Sheep and Goat Farming 1.9 $67,612 Beef Cattle Ranching & Farming Including Feedlots 17.6 $66,873 Dairy Cattle and Milk Production 7.9 $65,010 7
The United States Changing Farming Demographic, 2007 to 2012 Increase in average age of farm operators to 58.3 y/o, up from 57.1 y/o. Decrease in the number of new farmers entering the profession, down by 20%. Increase in farm operator diversity with the number of Hispanic operators increasing by 20%. Increase in the number of women operated farms. Small commercial farms have seen a steady, slow, long term decline in sales as the U.S. farm production continues to shift to larger operations. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture 2012 Census 8
Characteristics of Ethiopian Agriculture The Ethiopian economy is primarily based on agriculture, which accounts for 41% of the GDP. It is characterized by small scale, rain fed farming with limited use of modern inputs and low productivity. 12 million smallholder farming households account for an estimated 95% of agriculture production and 85% of employment. 18% of farming households are operated by women. There are 74.5 million hectares suitable for farming and only 13.6 million are currently in use. 36% of farming households operate on less than 0.5 hectares and 60% on less than 1 hectare. Farmers produce cereal crops (wheat, barley, corn, rice), oil seeds (sesame, Niger seeds, canola, linseed, ground nuts, sunflower, lentils), pulses (Soya beans, haricot beans, chickpeas, beans and lentils), beverage crops (coffee and tea), cotton, horticulture, apiculture. 9
India s Farming Industry Source: State of Indian Farmers The agricultural industry accounts for 13% of the country s total exports and contributes to about 18.5% of India s GDP. Common Indian crops include: paddy, wheat, bajra, maize, gram, sugarcane, soyabeen and cotton. Small farmers represent 60% of the farming families, whereas larger farmers represent only 7%, landless farmers represent 14% and medium farmers represent 19%. Among large farmer families, 73% have women in the household participate in farming activities, whereas only 42% of landless farmer families have women engage in these activities. According to a survey by Lokniti, 46% of farmers grow up to two crops annually, 26% are able to grow only one crop annually, and 28% were able to grow more than two crops. India will soon experience a demographic shift as farmers continue to encourage their children to leave the industry and find other jobs. 10
ICT Enabled Ecosystem Development That Remain Anchored in the Farm Throughout Development Stages 11
Digital Green Low Cost Human Mediated Digital Technology for Agriculture Extension with Farmers Digital Green uses an innovative digital platform for community engagement to improve the lives of rural communities across South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. The model combines technology and social organization to maximize the potential of building the capacity of community members on improved, sustainable agriculture, livelihood, and health interventions. Maintain a human centered and contextual design approach at the core of their work, to successfully customize approach to suit diverse contexts and stakeholders. Trained village level mediators produce and share videos on locally relevant agronomic, health, and livelihood practices to motivate and educate community members. A facilitator from the community mediates a discussion and regular adoption verification visits are scheduled to gauge the impact of the dissemination on actual practices. Since 2008, they have reached 7,448 villages across India, Ethiopia and Ghana and have improved the lives of more than 640,000 community members (70% of them women) (Digital Green). Source: Digital Green 12
ekutir ICT Platform Farmer Centric What is Our Approach Human Resource Farmer Household Approach Physical Resource ekutir s mission is to address poverty of smallholder farmers through an ICT enabled Social Business Model that introduces new technologies to monitor, track, and transact with the communities. It is changing rural poverty through Economic Opportunity: SMEs started or made viable, growing and capturing value, jobs Improved Health: access and affordability to diverse nutritious vegetables Environmental Efforts: less chemicals, efficient distribution Equity: addressing most vulnerable, who captures value, who makes decisions Sustainable, not one off charity: social capital, partnerships, long term revenue streams 13
ekutir IT Platform Centered around the farmer and its ecosystem the platform: Empowers the rural communities through well connected, systematic, and efficient ecosystem for value and impact to ensure a sustainable subsistence; Drives an inclusive impact through increase in income, productivity, and better livelihoods and providing avenues for growth and development; Reaches the next billion by developing micro entrepreneurs, who generate income streams, link markets and create opportunities. The current service model identifies, selects, and trains micro entrepreneurs to further promote small holder productivity. 14
VeggieKart, a Network of Entrepreneurs Around Fruits and Vegetables VeggieKart is a consumer and farmer beneficial retail initiative that uses an online ecommerce platform to allow consumers to meet farmers and understand their nutritional intake. Through this network of fresh fruit and vegetable entrepreneurs, farmers and customers can match each other s requirement on quality, price, and quantity. Set quality standards ensure the provision of good quality produce to the customers through proper value chain mechanisms while giving a good return to the producers: Only Superior Quality Fruits and Vegetables Nothing for Tomorrow, the produces are fresh and are procured on an every day basis Suitable Care in Storage Top Quality Vendors Intensive Stock Checks Through a transparent connection between farmer and consumer, this network pushes the value to small holder farmers, increasing the efficiency throughout the value chain. 15
VeggieKart Value Chain Comparison Traditional Vegetable Supply Chain, Orissa 1 3 days/hrs from producer to market? Farmer Credit fees Village Middleman Mandi Market Urban Aggregator Distributor Wastage Taxes Retailer 45% of end value 8% of value Payment to farmer delayed, farmers forced to take credit 15% of value 8% of value Spoilage x% Taxes 3% 8% of value 16% of end value Supply Chain Efficiency = 60% (40% losses due to wastage, taxes) VeggieKart Value Chain, Orissa pushing value to small holder farmer, increasing efficiency throughout value chain 24hrs from producer to market Farmer Ag Entrepreneur VeggieKart Distribution Micro Entrepreneur Retailers 65% of end value 250+ (2000 by end of 2015) smallholder producers capturing stronger value, receiving further services 5% of end value New economic opportunities (61) Providing better information to smallholder farmers about market demand, immediate payments 25% of end value Creating jobs (40), reducing wastage (from 30% down to 5%) 5% of end value (but 0 capital, 0 risk) New economic opportunities (24) Supply Chain Efficiency = 90% (10% losses due to wastage, taxes 16
Farm anchored ecosystem transformation 17
TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) Digital Farming Initiative Source: TCS mkrishi a Mobile Based, Complete Business Solution encompassing Technology and Agri Enterprise Management that: Enables two way data exchange Personalized Agri Advisory Repositions of knowledge such as virtual knowledge, agriculture experts, procurement offices and other stakeholders in the agri eco system CROPS (Crop Rotation, Optimization and Planning System) Personalized and Localized Weather Forecast AgriKnob (Agriculture Knowledge Base) AgriCommS (Agri Commerce System) enabling forward and backward linkages A 4 phase system: Crop Planning, Aggregation & Ordering, Crop Cycle Management, Harvest Planning 18
TCS Digital Farming Initiative Objectives Source: TCS 19
Redefining Points of Value Creation and Capture Between Farmers and Eaters 20
Convergent Innovation in Traditional and Modern World S.T.I.P.T. Science, Technology, Innovation,Practice, and Tradition Food people need Citizen Food the planet can sustain Food people are willing and able to pay for Consumer Patient Food the farmer and value chain are able and willing to produce Food people want S.T.I.P.T. in Nutrition, Health, and Disease S.T.I.P.T. in Ingredients, Taste, and Sensory Technology S.T.I.P.T. in Animal and Plant Breeding Food CI Sweet Spot S.T.I.P.T. in Packaging, Transportation, Retail, Service, and Consumption S.T.I.P.T. in Farm and Food Processing S.T.I.P.T.Pipelines In Digital Technologies, Media, and Advanced Analytics One World Convergence of Agriculture, Health, and Wealth 21
Farmer participatory millet cultivar selection
Promotion of finger millet as intercrop with tapioca (for diversity and yield)
Traditional World Food Innovation Vermi compost pits have been constructed among all adopted villages followed by the training of farmers on compost technology. The major improvement is seen in the increased productivity of all the millet crops following use of the compost in the field. Locally suitable tools for row planting of millets result in easier weeding and increased yields. 24
Modernizing traditional food in Subsistence to Market Transition 25
Alternative farm anchored course to nutritious food innovation In the past 30 years, prices of fruits and vegetables have increased 120% with prices of soft drinks and other junk foods increasing only 20 40% in the same time period. With food at the nexus of agriculture, industry, nutrition/health/healthcare, there is a need for joint efforts to create awareness, to focus on health, nutrition & food innovation, to ensure market access & stability, productivity & environmental sustainability and food security. Modern food innovations should take on a new approach to bridge tradition and modernity while also delivering better targeted nutrition that addresses health, value, taste, and convenience. 26
Translating Nutrition Innovation into Practice Translational nutrition is a means of shortening the path between discoveries in nutrition and their application to benefit both society and the food industry. Institution Food Service is an area to focus on and modernize to create relevant foods for kids/active youth; to target specific nutritional requirements; to collaborate with other post secondary programs; to market and expose products via online video promotions; and to develop a delicious product and promo that kids will actually love. New opportunities for innovation exist with growth in the U.S. of organic sales up by 20% annually since 1990 and the Global Organic Food Market saw about an 11% increase in 2006 2007. Starting at the table, we can create a better food system for our health, the health of our families, the health of our communities, and the health of the world. 27
CI Test Bed: Pulse Innovation Platform Food people need Food the planet can sustain Food people are willing and able to pay for One World Convergence of Agriculture, Health and Wealth Food the farmer and value chain are able and willing to produce Food people want Pulses: Food of the Future Organizations Engaged in Early PIP Development
Smoother Urban/Peri Urban/Rural Farming and Food Practices 30
Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture (UPA) Riverpark Farm, NY Rooftop farming Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture are increasingly promoted as a multifocal approach that enhances urban food security and advances climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in cities. The extent to which UPA can enhance urban food security is limited by access to land, water, and the ability of farmers to efficiently navigate the multitude of risks associated with food production in urban and peri urban environments. UPA s effectiveness is challenged by the marginalization of land and water resources, increasing climate risks, ineffective policies and poor governance that currently undermine its long term potential to address issues of urban food security and climate change adaptation concerns. 31
Vertical Farming: a Possible Solution to Food Insecurity Vertical farming has garnered the public s attention as concerns about the environment, sustainability and food security remain unaddressed. Vertical farming shows promise as an effective means to help increase food production, maintain food security, foster sustainable urban agriculture, and generate greater community involvement. A new take on vertical farming, designed by Dickson Despommier for urban centers, which often lack adequate access to nutritious foods, involves the utilization of high rise, multistoried buildings, coupled with advanced greenhouse and emerging light emitting diode (LED) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology to produce fruits and vegetables as well as fish, poultry, and small domesticated animals. Such an approach ensures year round productivity and production would also be protected from adverse climatic events that normally reduce yields or completely eliminate productive capacity. 32
Deeper and Broader Women Friendliness in Farm, Food, Health, and Society 33
Small Scale Women Farmers are Essential to Agriculture and Food Security Small scale farmers produce 60% to 80% of the food in developing countries and most of them are women. Yet women account for over 60% of the world s undernourished population (IFAD). Despite accounting for more than half of the small scale farmers, women farmers control less land than men, and have access to fewer inputs, seeds, credits and services (FAO). When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access to land, leadership, opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects are improved for current and future generations Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretrary General and Executive Director of UN Women 34
Facilitating Health and Wealth for Women Through Food Security Ways to address lack of food security for women in agriculture: Reduction to drudgery of women through the introduction of simple and affordable crop management and post harvest operations and processing such as de hulling and milling; Women centric farm to market value chain with value added product developed from the local crops for enhancing household income women empowerment; Improving the nutritional status of the rural households through nutrition education to women and children; Value addition training to women entrepreneurs in project villages to teach them how to prepare, package, and market products. 35
Drudgery reduction Seed cum fertilizer drill Cycle weeder Sickles
Training for treshing machinery
Nutrition education in villages and schools
Training for treshing machinery
Value-addition training to women entrepreneurs in project villages Ragi malt preparation Little millet papad preparation Preparation of millet products Packaging of products for marketing
Women and Their Current Place in Society In the modern system, women continue to take on larger roles in society, going into professions they once were not a part of. Yet, despite these advancements women are still not giving equal access to resources: education, job opportunities, pay, etc. In 2013, the employment to population ratio for women was 47.1% whereas it was 72.2% for men (International Labour Organization). More women than men work in vulnerable, low paid jobs, or undervalued jobs with 49.1% of women working such jobs compared to 46.9% of men (ILO Global Employment Trends, 2014). 41
Raising the Glass Ceiling Throughout Society 42
Challenges and Possibilities for Science, Policy, and Innovation 43
The MCCHE stimulates new avenues of collaboration that bridge the many divides in market, economy, and society at the root of some of our most pressing modern health and economic problems www.mcgill.ca/mcche Laurette Dubé Founding Chair and Scientific Director, MCCHE James McGill Professor of Consumer Psychology Tel.: +1.514.398.4026 Email: laurette.dube@mcgill.ca Chris Lannon Managing Director, MCCHE Tel.: +1-514-398-3326 Email: chris.lannon@mcgill.ca