The passing of World Food Day (Oct 16) gave us the chance to be grateful for the abundance of food many of us enjoy (especially if you live in Canada where Thanksgiving). Despite the leftover turkey you may still be heating up, World Food Day draws our attention to the millions of people who do not have enough food or water to meet basic needs.
One of the many groups looking for a solution to the food crisis is the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa or AGRA. Headed by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative of the alliance is to “achieve a food secure and prosperous Africa through the promotion of rapid, sustainable agricultural growth based on smallholder farmers.” (AGRA). They hope to better the agricultural systems of Sub-Saharan Africa with programs dedicated to plant science.
Plant science may be the answer to many agricultural problems the world faces, and in particular Africa. Scientists use it to explore ways to manipulate plant growth, the types of soils crops can grow in and ideally find and end to hunger. Recently, it was used to discover a gene in plants that can help them withstand drought.
AGRA uses plant science to develop seeds that encompass an array of crops and can grow faster than regular seeds. With more produce, farmers have more to offer on the market and will ideally make more profit. At the same time, these seeds need to produce crops that can aid the country domestically. With the accelerated crops, the idea is there will be enough for countries to feed themselves and participate in global markets.
Another part of AGRA’s plant science is being used to “heal” the soil. Due to years of soil erosion, land in Sub-Saharan Africa is in dire need of improvement. Plant science is working to find solutions that can revitalize soil, and give farmers more land to grow crops. One breakthrough involves combing sand, clay, organic matter and living organisms to create a soil that releases nutrients and accelerates plant growth while making it more efficient.
This innovation is really taking off and could be the agricultural solution of the future. Imagine a crop that can grow quickly and abundantly while withstanding extreme weather conditions. While it could be a beneficial science of the future, there is a lack of youth initiatives to assist with plant science (maybe they know you don’t spend all your free time in a science lab). If you are interested in plant science and other innovations in poverty reduction agriculture you can check out the AGRA and The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. With the help of plant science, maybe there will be no need for a World Food Day in the future.
By Jessie Ampofo
Blog Writer 2009-2010, Change Tomorrow’s World
