What is the 'Grand Challenge' Facing the Future of Agriculture?

What are the top research questions facing agriculture? Earlier this year,
the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) sought out the opinions of its
members and leadership to develop a Grand Challenge statement, key
questions, and expected outcomes.

 

 

ASA Grand Challenge

The Society -- through a process involving its members, staff, and leaders
-- identified a "Grand Challenge" statement that encompasses the future of
agriculture:

Double global food, feed, fiber, and fuel production on existing farmland
within the 21st century with production systems that:

 

At the core of ASA's Grand Challenge statement is the creation of topics
that include key questions along with expected outcomes. According to ASA
President Francis J. Pierce of Washington State University, the top research
advances in global food security, sustainable biofuels, nutrition, and
climate change, can all point to ASA's 'Grand Challenge' statement as the
basis for the future of agriculture. "We are excited about the advances that
are taking place in agriculture," says Pierce. "Our scientific Society and
our members as agronomists have a tremendous role to play in meeting this
'grand challenge' of doubling global food, feed, fiber, and fuel production
within the 21st century. Our Grand Challenge brings new insight and ideas
and renewed focus to the Society."

According to Pierce, ASA's Grand Challenge statement was prompted by a
request from the Obama administration to think critically about identifying
the top research questions that would result in advances to overcome the
challenges of achieving global food security, sustainable biofuel feedstock
production, meeting human nutrition requirements, and mitigating and
adapting to global climate change. "We hope that this exercise will allow
cohesive, cross-discipline progress toward meeting the challenge identified
by the membership and elected leaders of the Societies," Pierce concludes.

To view the six-page booklet containing the ASA Grand Challenge statement,
including each of the Key Questions, and Expected Outcomes, please visit the
American Society of Agronomy's
<https://www.agronomy.org/files/science-policy/asa-grand-challenge-2010.pdf>
Science Policy Grand Challenges page: