challenges to agriculture
DESCRIPTION
Challenges to Agriculture. What is our future?. Challenges. Feeding the world/food security Understanding what G x E x M means Increasing the efficiency of plant and animal production Promoting the soil as a resource Developing effective linkages with pest specialists - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
CHALLENGES TOAGRICULTURE
What is our future?
CHALLENGES Feeding the world/food security Understanding what G x E x M means Increasing the efficiency of plant and
animal production Promoting the soil as a resource Developing effective linkages with pest
specialists Focus on product quality (grain, forage)
FEEDING THE WORLD/FOOD SECURITY
THE PROBLEM
OPTIMISM OF US CORN PRODUCTION
US Corn Production
X Data
1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
Gra
in Y
ield
(Mg
ha-1
)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Expect yields to continue to increase
REALITY OF WORLD WHEAT PRODUCTION
World Wheat Production
Year
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Pro
duct
ion
(mill
ion
met
ric to
ns)
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Wheat and Rice show a leveling in yield increases in the past 20 years
UNDERSTANDING WHAT G X E X M MEANS
INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF CROP AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION
PROMOTING THE SOIL AS A RESOURCE
VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE WORLD
SOIL WATER AVAILABILITY
Organic Matter (%)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Ava
ilabl
e W
ater
Con
tent
(%)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Data Points Sand, AWC = 3.8 + 2.2 OMSilt Loam, AWC = 9.2 + 3.7 OMSilty clay loam, AWC = 6.3 + 2.8 OM
Hudson, 1994
DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE LINKAGES WITH PEST SPECIALISTS
INSECTS, DISEASES, AND WEEDS
Weeds are showing a positive response to rising CO2 concentrations
Insect and disease pressure increase with more favorable environments over the winter and more humid conditions during the growing season.
PESTS Increasing temperatures will expand the
range of overwintering insects Additional stress on plants will create a
condition of potential susceptibility to pathogens and insects
FOCUS ON PRODUCT QUALITY (GRAIN, FORAGE)
PRODUCT QUALITY Within season conditions will affect the
quality of the grain, fiber, or fruit. Examples
Protein content in wheatAflatoxin in grainsWine qualityRaisin quality
CHALLENGES Feeding the world/food security Understanding what G x E x M means Increasing the efficiency of plant and
animal production Promoting the soil as a resource Developing effective linkages with pest
specialists Focus on product quality (grain, forage)
CHALLENGES Agronomists are positioned to address
these challenges Need to focus on the system with its
moving parts to fully develop solutions applicable to producers