Theme 2

Improving the productivity and efficiency of food crop and forestry systems

What is the challenge?

The level and efficiency of food and fibre crop and forestry production in developing countries need to be increased. Populations are rising, irrigation water is becoming scarce, agricultural land is being lost to development, labour availability is decreasing in rural areas, and the terms of trade for farmers are becoming less favourable. Farmers usually respond to such challenges by increasing productivity and reducing costs, and this will need to continue in the foreseeable future. Challenges facing production systems include the conservation and improvement of crop and forest genetic resources, sustainable forestry resource management, and the establishment and enhancement of policy environments that encourage sustainability, productivity and profitability.

Many food crops and trees are grown outside their centres of origin. Genetic enhancement to overcome biotic and abiotic constraints in the production of crops and forest plantations depends on continuing access in breeding programs to native genetic diversity containing appropriate tolerance and resistance genes. However, many natural areas are disappearing and the loss of genetic diversity can weaken plant improvement efforts.

It is critical for the long-term future of crop and forestry improvement programs to maintain genetic diversity in gene banks and to allow continuing access to this germplasm for plant improvement. Plant improvement efforts must be maintained and enhanced to expand the adaptation and utilisation of crop and forest species. New pests and diseases are continuously evolving. Increased 'factor productivity' is needed for a more efficient use of resources, and to improve tolerance or resistance to pests and diseases, and to difficult soil and climatic factors. In forestry, increased attention must be paid to the long-term sustainability of logging practices.

Markets and consumer requirements must be better understood. Many of the traits important in postharvest storage and processing of crop and forestry products can be introduced through breeding. Traditional breeding programs will be enhanced by new technologies. Genetic transformation may incorporate novel traits but must take account of the regulations on genetically modified organisms in partner countries.

Crop and forest production is increasingly threatened by practices such as inappropriate species (or variety or provenance) selection, poor rotation systems, over-cultivation of soils, excessive irrigation, poor water balance and drainage, and depletion of soil nutrients. The components and consequences of different production systems need to be understood. The sustainability, attractiveness and robustness of systems may be enhanced through diversity of species and systems. Technologies such as zero tillage, stubble mulching, legume and break crop rotations and biological control need further investigation and promotion where successful. Modelling can enhance understanding of systems and the development and testing of alternative technologies.

Policy environments need attention as international trade liberalisation introduces new competition. Farmers' terms of trade have declined as costs increase faster than prices. Farmers need to be efficient and alert to opportunities to diversify into high-value, high-profitability systems. There is a need to understand the sociological context of constraints and interventions, to enhance targeting, promotion and uptake of more appropriate technologies.

How can ACIAR respond?

Low nitrogen, phosphorus and water characterise the natural resource base of Australia's extensive production systems and Australia offers strong research capacity in the development of plants and systems tolerant of these constraints. ACIAR will sponsor research that:

• explicitly aims to improve the productivity and profitability of crops and forests, while fostering environmental sustainability
• responds to the needs and priorities of our partner countries
• is a subject in which Australia has appropriate expertise and research interest
• is compatible with local economic and social conditions
• is co-designed for use by specific potential users of research, ranging from policy-makers, community groups, private and public industries, and individual farmers
• helps to alleviate poverty in rural communities.

The focus areas

The focus statements from theme 2 are available below for download as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. In order to view the statements, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, it can be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe website(www.adobe.com).