全球粮食安全与营养论坛 (FSN论坛)

Agroecology and food security

The issues of sustainable development are in the center of global trends and issues for consideration by the world, regions, countries, and individual farmers and food producers. It is obvious that sustainable agriculture based on an integrated approach to environmental, economic, and social issues reflected in sustainable development goals (SDGs)[1]. SDGs identify workable options to eradicate poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and improve environmental performance. It means further development based on agroecological innovative approach. From that point of view agroecology it is a complex of innovative scientifically grounded methods and technologies used in the cultivation of crops and various types of livestock, which provides for the development of productive forces and compliance with environmental safety, as well as the mandatory reduction of anthropogenic pressures on air and water basins, agricultural, forest and other lands, quality and quantity of food.

That’s why agriculture and food security are in close connection with ecological issues which follow mankind since the second half of last century and even more actively in the current millennium. It is time to think about agroecology for food security rather than just agriculture and food production. There are a number of reasons to do so.

The first thing is the negative anthropogenic impact on one of the most important components of the natural environment, the basis of agricultural production, - the soil. Degradation of soil fertility is one of the most important problems associated with previous methods of land use. In general, this problem exists for the whole world and most clearly observed in the post-Soviet countries. Although the use of no-till or minimum till saving technologies are on the way in many countries, the problem is further exacerbated by the limited land areas and the need to increase food production due to the growing demand and increasing population of the world.

Along with the issues of the development of "accurate" agriculture, the issues of the development of "organic" agriculture, based on increasing the efficiency of agricultural production through agrarian landscaping of lands, the use of scientifically grounded crop rotation, the reduction of the amount of agrochemicals introduced in favor of organic fertilizer application, as well as the use of production of highly productive varieties.

The second is the role of agroecology in reducing the negative impact of agricultural activities on water bodies and atmospheric air. Wastes and wastewater from livestock farms and poultry farms, unsystematic use and abuse of pesticides, waste from the processing industry, weakening of production and technological discipline, difficulties in implementing environmental monitoring at agricultural sites - these all lead to the fact that the state of all components of the environment in rural areas remains alarming. A number of regions have signs and zones of emergency ecological situation or ecological disaster.

The development of livestock breeding on an industrial basis, the creation of a strong fodder base, the expansion of pasture pastures, the large concentration of livestock in a limited area, the change in traditional forms of its content necessitate the use of a large amount of water from rivers, lakes and other water bodies, which has a significant impact on the state reservoirs and the environment as a whole.

The intensive and multifaceted impact of agriculture on the environment is explained not only by the growing consumption of natural resources necessary for the continuous growth of agricultural production, but also by the formation of significant waste and sewage from livestock farms, complexes, poultry farms and other agricultural facilities.

The third is related to the increase in water consumption for livestock raising, discharges of manure-containing sewage into water, as a result of which they become polluted and lose their useful properties. Even dumping small doses of untreated manure-containing sewage from livestock farms and complexes causes massive fish freezes and causes significant economic damage. Again, in most of post- Soviet countries at present, the majority of treatment facilities (78.5%)[2] do not meet regulatory requirements. Ineffective operation of treatment facilities is due to outdated technologies for wastewater treatment and equipment deterioration. In the zone of livestock complexes and poultry farms, air is polluted with microorganisms, dust, ammonia and other animal products, often with an unpleasant odor (over 45 different substances). These smells can spread at a considerable distance (up to 10 km).

The fourth is that addition environmental and climate change issues raise concerns on quantity, quality and safety

of agricultural products. It is related with protein content, loose of nutritious elements in soil and its

contamination by mycotoxins. With regard to mycotoxin contamination it is even worse since, as it outlines by the

Codex Alimentarius, majority of related issues the control measures are not fully effective. In addition the

countries’ regulations on mycotoxins are far of rationality since used just tolerant level thresholds which are risky.

Some countries try to set up the thresholds based on it is based an Acceptable daily intake (ADI) or Tolerable daily

Intake (TDI). At the same time the survey conducted by BIOMIN 2014-2017 demonstrates increasing threats,

which are in many cases related with weather conditions, hazards, and climate changes observed

in the forms of frequent droughts, floods, irregular rains, extreme wet, cold, and humidity.

However, in terms of providing food of the right quality which is nutritious and free from environmental contaminants, the task ahead is challenging, particularly in highly populated parts of the world. Among food contaminants, mycotoxins will have greater consequences in terms of both human and animal health as well as economics. Mycotoxins - poisonous chemical compounds produced by fungi, found in food and animal feedstuffs (grains and seeds). They are very sensitive to climate and environmental conditions due to ecological imbalance, systematic violation of biosphere, climate change (irregular rains, floods, droughts or unusual cold weather).  Mycotoxins are substances produced by moulds that contaminate various agricultural commodities either before harvest or under post-harvest conditions. In addition to the various moulds occurring in crops which are improperly stored, certain plant diseases are responsible for the production of mycotoxins. Different weather conditions, such as unseasonable rains at the time of flowering or cyclones and droughts during harvest and post-harvest stages; mould growth; and mycotoxin contamination can also pose serious problems.

Mycotoxin contamination results in serious socio-economic implications in particular on health. The consumption

of mycotoxin-contaminated commodities is related to several acute and chronic diseases in humans as well as in

animals. While the exact cause and effect relationship has been established for only a few of the diseases,

speculation about the role of mycotoxins in the etiology of various illnesses has been based on circumstantial

evidence in other cases. Increase of mycotoxin contamination levels observed for corn, finished feed and

soy. Costs of protein and mycotoxin contamination in agricultural products, for example cereals, results in socio

economic and environmental consequences. Mycotoxin contamination leads to different losses and costs this

might be grouped as socio –economic and environmental costs.[3]

These above mentioned problems can be effectively solved also through increasing the science intensity of the industry, through technology and, of course, through effective law enforcement practice in the framework of implementing key legislative acts in the field of environmental protection, food safety and food security. Thus, the role of agricultural innovations is in the first place to address the above problems.