Following aspects on food production systems need to be highlighted
1. Choice of appropriate crops/cropping systems (major emphasis on fruits and vegetables components)
2. Decline in soil fertility status (specially secondary and micro-nutrients viz. S, Zn, Fe, B etc)
3. Replenishment of soil nutrients availability for higher uptake of micro-nutrients, primary and secondary nutrients by the plants for better human health and nutrition
4. Methods of enhanced bio-fortification (increased Zn, Fe, S, B, K contents in food systems) viz. develoment of customized fertilizers, foliar nutrition to crops, use of plant growth promoters, organic farming, use of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides
5. Development of green agricultural products
6. Control of soil, air and water pollution (viz. industrial pollutant, toxic elements etc) for direct/indirect effects on human health and nutrition and appropriate remediation for control of these pollutants
7. Evaluating the impact of tropospheric ozone, UV-B radiation and aerosols on human health and agricultural production systems
8. Effect of temperature rise and elevated carbon dioxide on agricultural production systems, products quality viz. nutrition aspects in general and human health
9. Enhanced land degradation (salinity, sodicity, acidity, waterlogging, heavy metal loadings, radio-active wastes, pesticides residues, nitrates leaching etc) and direct and indirect effects on human health and crops nutrition
10. Specific case studies on these aspects (including management options)
11. Decision support systems development, including development of simulation models, for characterization of the extent of problems, damage mechanisms and management options for better food quality and human health
and many other issues
regards
Dr Naveen Kalra
Former Head, Agricultural Physivcs, Indian Agricultural Research Instiutute, New Delhi, India
Former Head, Center of Agri-Solutions and Technologies, Tata Chemicals Limited, Aligarh, UP, India
NAVEEN KALRA