Building Value Chains for Enhanced PGR Utilization and Sustainable Food Systems

Abstract

The World Food System is characterized by a high level of concentration and dependency. It is estimated that out of the above 5500 plant-known edible species, only 12 makeup of more than 75% of what we eat. Cereals provide the highest share in terms of calorie intake, with only three crops – rice, wheat, and maize – providing more than 50% of calorie intake. This impressive concentration on a few staple crops exposes the agricultural production system and their markets to vulnerability. Furthermore, recent UN report on World Population Prospects–2022 has made the whole World worry especially the countries like India where the population by 2050 would cross 1.66 billion and surpass the population of China (WPP, 2022). In such circumstances meeting the Sustainable Goals and providing healthy and nutritious food to increasing population would be a big challenge. Ensuring food and nutritional security side by side reducing pressure on natural resources, mitigating climate change and controlling price volatility due to conflicts and other disturbances is also a matter of deep concern for developing world.