June 19, 2009
Russia holds key in relieving world food crisis
The world food crisis is not yet over, and Russia can play a key role in alleviating the crisis, according to a senior executive from leading agrochemicals company Syngenta AG.
The world economic crisis has overshadowed the food crisis, a problem that has not gone away, and the world needs 50 percent more of food production by 2030, or to double food production by 2050, said Syngenta Chief Operating Officer John Atkin.
Russia possesses 47 million hectares of arable land, but only about 10 percent is farmed intensively so the country's potential is great, Atkin said, adding that an efficient globally-coordinated system of food storage would also help alleviate shortages.
Reducing trade barriers, selective use of intervention and public investment in agriculture to assist farmers grow better crops can help secure global food security, Atkin said.
Russia plans to increase grain production by 50 percent within 10-15 years, but has no immediate needs to use GM crops to boost production, Atkin said.
While Russia can hit its production target without the use of GM crops, biotechnology could play a role in the longer-term, said Atkin.
