The DuPont assembled Advisory Committee on Agriculture Innovation and Productivity, chaired by former U.S. Senator Thomas Daschle, reports the challenge of feeding a growing population of 9-billion by 2050 requires collaboration across all stakeholders on a scale never seen before and it has to start now. According to Daschle, – the complexity of this challenge – substantial urbanization, diminished resources such as arable land and water, increased rates of malnutrition – are complex and can only be addressed with the kind of innovation that comes from partnerships and collaboration on a whole new level.

The committee’s recommendations are focused in three areas: Producing more food with increased nutritional value; Making food accessible and affordable for everyone; and Addressing the challenge in a continuously more sustainable and comprehensive way. Among the specific recommendations were calls for improved public policy in the areas of trade, regulatory approval of agriculture innovations, subsidies and intellectual property protection. The committee also called on the private sector to invest in developing markets to build sustained economic growth.

Key areas where large-scale collaboration was recommended included public/private efforts in research and development, especially to develop and implement a strategy for improving productivity and nutritional value of indigenous crops; investment in farmer extension services and financing; and development of enhanced science-based education systems worldwide and youth and leadership development programs in key developing markets, such as Africa.