Page 26 - Climate Conference - EBook 2023: Al-Qasemi Academy

Agricultural Research Challenges and Food
Security: A threat or an opportunity?
Prof. Abed Gera

Formed Director, PPIS, ARO, and Chief Scientist,
Ministry of Agriculture

ABSTRACT
The main challenges of agricultural research and development are the supply of fresh
food products all year, ensuring a decent income for the farming community; increasing
exports of agricultural products; increasing production and income of farmers; developing
and adapting crops and technologies without polluting the environment, and maximize
the efficient use of the limited water resources. These goals require the development of
new products and cultivars, improvement of food quality and safety, functional food,
integrated pest management (IPM), precision agriculture, and farming efficiency, with
.agricultural technologies friendly to the environment
Every year, cascading weather events, wars, and natural disasters, such as hurricanes,
floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes, challenge agricultural production. Because
agriculture relies on the weather, climate, and water availability to thrive, it is easily
impacted by natural events and disasters. Agricultural impacts from natural events and
disasters most commonly include: Contamination of water bodies, loss of harvest or
livestock, eased susceptibility to disease, and destruction of irrigation systems and other
agricultural infrastructure. These impacts can have long-lasting effects on agricultural
production including crops, forest growth, and arable lands, which require time to mature.
While the agricultural land might be severely affected, agriculture labor, inputs, markets,
and infrastructures such as irrigation systems and drainage canals may have incurred
damages. As a result, the output of this sector is likely, anticipated to drop significantly
leading to potential food security problems. These challenges require a permanent effort
to innovate with new technologies, new products, and better storage technologies to
.prevent food losses, and a new paradigm of agriculture practices is needed

Major achievements, including improved technologies, increase in productivity with a
reduced input of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, integrated/diversified smart farming,
sustainable intensification, vertical farming, hydroponics, and the toolbox for creativity
and innovation in agricultural research and development will be discussed
Biography: Born in Israel (1955), graduated from Tel-Aviv University (TU) and earned a
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), and M.D., Sackler School of Medicine, TU. Since 1985, he
worked as a senior scientist Grade A+ of the Scientific Civil Service (Equivalent to full
professor) at the Department of Plant Virology, The Institute of Plant Protection,
Agricultural Research