Oilseeds, innovation and the 4th agricultural revolution: USAID's perspective

Abstract

USAID has been shaping innovations in agriculture and advancing development in agribusiness and rural communities since its inception in 1961 (USAID, 2013, 2019). In 1968, USAID Administrator William Gaud announced a €œgreen revolution€ with the inception of high yield varieties, driven by Norman Borlaug's research with wheat, inputs and better policies in the developing world. Today, we are at the forefront of a fourth agricultural €œrevolution€ to support a growing population with new knowledge and digital innovations. USAID supports research to enhance agriculture with better seeds, capacity building and technology transfers affecting the value chain, from smallholder farmers through to processors. The USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs draw on top U.S. universities and research institutions to overcome the world's greatest challenges in food security. As an example, oilseeds are playing an important role in the 4th agricultural revolution; the global oilseed market expanded over 220% in the short 20 years from 1990-2010. Soybean and palm oil production increased 300% in the same period (Byerlee, 2017). Oilseeds can make significant contributions to enhance livelihoods and food security, however Africa makes up less than 1% of global soybean production and holds 24% of palm cultivated land area (Goldsmith, 2019, Ordway, 2019). Africa has the highest rate of stunting in the world at 33% for children under 5 (UNICEF, 2018). Nutrient dense crops like soybean have the potential to alleviate malnutrition, particularly when processed at scale. Unlike the green revolution of the late 1960's however, USAID supports initiatives that alleviate the dynamic tension between environmental concerns, smallholder livelihoods and food security. This new agricultural revolution will be "greener" because it synthesizes criticisms of intensive industrial agriculture while applying past lessons learned. We must work together, as one team of development and industry professionals, to sustain the planet and all of its people.