One of the greatest contemporary challenges is how to feed a growing population with limited land resources. This project envisions solutions to this challenge and demonstrates their viability by examining feedbacks and interactions between land use change and food security dynamics.
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Complex feedback interactions
The project examines the many feedback interactions that exist between land use, land use change and food security. Collaborating research groups from 8 countries around the world will do this using high resolution spatial models as well as databases of soils, land use, crops and livestock.
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Food supply and demand
Researchers will quantify food demand at a national level using a global model (FEEDME) and FAO statistics. Data will be used to derive country level dietary demands for food products; modeling will account for economic and socio-political conditions of production. International trade simulations will explore ways to meet demand.
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Food security scenarios
We will examine regional impacts of supply and demand on food security, land use change and selected ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and South Asia. Models will test various scenarios, considering changes in production, distribution and trade, changing diets, and waste and loss reduction along value chains.
Connecting stakeholders
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Global and regional stakeholders have been involved from the start and will continue their engagement at strategic points in the research process. Workshops and exchange platforms will enable the project to inform decision makers and provide critical feedback to the modeling teams.
International, multi-disciplinary
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To take on a challenge so great, a multi-disciplinary team is necessary since no single discipline has the necessary tools. The research consortium brings together natural scientists, social scientists, nutritionists, economists, and knowledge experts from around the world.
