Productivity in Agriculture for a Sustainable Future

Abstract

The Malthusian predictions of the future have not come to pass due largely to innovative agricultural technologies and practices that stimulated significant gains in agricultural productivity. This chapter examines the linkages between innovation, productivity, and sustainability. The definition of agricultural productivity, measured as total factor productivity (TFP), will be explained, as well as the contribution of innovation to global TFP growth and the contribution of TFP to sustainable food and agriculture systems. To illustrate these connections, this chapter highlights innovative technologies and practices used by crop and livestock producers in the United States, Colombia, India, Kenya, and Vietnam. These cases demonstrate how advanced seed technologies, improvements in soil health and nutrient management, mechanization, and an emphasis on animal health drive productivity growth around the world. Many of these cases feature partnerships between the public sector, private sector, and producers where innovations and new practices are used to increase productivity, incomes, food security, and nutrition. Creating an enabling policy environment is essential for agricultural innovation, productivity, and sustainability; the chapter gives examples of public policies that stimulate such productivity: investing in public sector research and development (R&D), embracing science-based technologies, and establishing smart regulatory environments. The chapter includes a discussion of innovation, productivity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Convolutional Neural Networks for Image-Based High-Throughput Plant Phenotyping: A Review

“…The global population is likely to exceed 9 billion by 2050, which will necessitate more food, fiber, and fuel products from agricultural production systems [ 1 ]. To fulfill these increasing demands, current crop productivity needs to be doubled approximately by 2050, which translates into an annual growth of 1.75% of total factor productivity (TFP) [ 2 ]. On average, the current TFP annual growth is approximately 1.5% globally, but the TFP annual growth has decreased to 0.96% in developing countries, thus presenting a significant challenge for the improvement of crop productivity.…”

Nondestructive Assessment of Citrus Fruit Quality and Ripening by Visible–Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

“…Their aim would be to deliver the best produce to the markets, and contribute to reduce the current level of food loss around the globe, that involves a large portion of fruit and vegetables [28][29][30]. Considering how much of the world's population lacks food security, and the importance of these commodities in the provision of essential nutrients and vitamins, which could prevent malnutrition, that kind of technologies would comply with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP), in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which supports a global commitment to end poverty, hunger and malnutrition by 2030, creating a #ZeroHunger world [31,32].…”

Identifying Themes and Patterns on Management of Horticultural Innovations with an Automated Text Analysis

“…The most relevant concepts within the theme are "education", "investments" and "post-harvest losses". Improvements must be targeted throughout every part of the value chain: better harvesting and storage practices, advances in the cold chain and in the transportation infrastructures, reductions in waste at the processing and retail levels [69]. Decreasing loss and waste on a wide scale depends also on government investments in public goods, such as infrastructures.…”