José Graziano da Silva warned that the agricultural model being used today is not suitable now that 805m still go without sufficient food each day.
While the number of chronically hungry people have been reduced by 100 million over the past decade, increasing production has long seen as the natural pathway to ending hunger. But today, even though the world produces enough food to feed everyone, hunger remains a problem, Graziano da Silva said.
Changing soils and biodiversity
"Since food production is not in sufficient condition for food security, it means that the way we are producing is no longer acceptable," he said.
"What we are still mostly seeing is a model of production that cannot prevent the degradation of soils and the loss of biodiversity—both of which are essential goods, especially for future generations. This model must be reviewed. We need a paradigm shift. Food systems need to be more sustainable, inclusive and resilient.”
Agriculture has a potentially large role to play not only in guaranteeing food security but also in building resilience to the affects of climate change and in reducing humankind's emissions of global warming gases, Graziano da Silva continued.
“Climate change will not only affect food production but also the availability of food and the stability of supplies. And in a global, interdependent economy, climate change makes the global market for agricultural products less predictable and more volatile."