The demand for food is doubling alongside the increase in human population and demands for preferences and needsJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) stated that research and innovation had a profound contribution in the development of sustainable food and agriculture as a means to establish national and global food security.
"To supply the required food stock in a sustainable manner, the right science, technology, and innovation will make a significant contribution," Deputy for Development Policy at BRIN Mego Pinandito stated at the first International Conference on Food and Agricultural Sciences (ICFAS) 2022 accessed here on Thursday.
He emphasized that farmers and food producers should be supported by research and innovation; in Indonesia, in particular, such research and innovation pursued by the agency, universities, and private research organizations.
Such research and innovation was crucial to address some of the challenges, including sustainable care for 9.7 billion of the global population in 2050 that will require an inclusive, sustainable, efficient, nutritious, and healthy food system.
Moreover, access to quality and nutritious food is fundamental to human existence, so food and agriculture sustainability is deemed crucial.
Some issues that impede sustainable agriculture and food were increasing population, food security, climate change, energy, loss of usable land, political and legal requirements, lost and wasted food, and overexploitation of natural resources.
"The demand for food is doubling alongside the increase in human population and demands for preferences and needs," he noted.
He opined that research and development, innovation, and policy support could contribute in some aspects to address sustainable food and agriculture issues or challenges, such as efficient use of resources and improvement in people's welfare, particularly those in rural areas.
It can also encourage the conservation, protection, and wise use of natural resources; increase the resilience of populations, communities, and ecosystems; as well as boost the effectiveness of government policies.
"Policy support is also needed as an effort to identify strategies, guidelines, and practices that constitute the concept of sustainable agriculture in Indonesia," he concluded.
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Translator: Martha H S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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