Achieving food security in a 'perfect storm' scenario is a grand challenge for society. Unless 50% more food, 50% more energy and 30% more freshwater are available by 2030, a 'perfect storm' is envisaged where there would be simultaneous shortages of all of these on a global scale. Many recent reports have outlined the challenge we face and a widely debated contribution to a solution relates to the idea of sustainable intensification of agriculture. Innovative approaches to agricultural sustainability need to be developed, whereby crops can be protected from biotic losses while at the same time minimizing seasonal inputs. Increased protection is essential, so that the investment of land preparation, seed, water and the provision of nutrients are not wasted. Increased protection and reduced carbon footprint can be delivered via the seed, and chemical ecology based opportunities arising from molecular breeding, genetic modification and companion cropping are being explored.

New chemical ecology based opportunities for agriculture in the face of global climate and population challenges

248th National Meeting (2014)

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