In the January 20 issue of Science a group of international agriculture experts, writing, prompts scientists to bring forth a preliminary work for more effective action on global food security in environmental negotiations in 2012.

“Agriculture worldwide is being impacted by climate change and in less than 15 years global population will rise by one billion people,” said Sir John Beddington, lead author of the article  ‘What Next for Agriculture After Durban?’ “Policy makers and scientists need to work together, quickly, to chart a course toward a sustainable global food system.”

Prof Tekalign Mamo of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture said that existing policies do not sufficiently encourage sustainable agricultural practices or prepare the global agriculture sector for climate change.

In Durban many public figures called for action on agriculture, including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, South African President Jacob Zuma, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi. Over 500 people joined in the third Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) meeting where Beddington presented key actions to avoid a future in which weather extremes produce a succession of food crises.

As many experts declared, even if COP17 in Durban opened the door to agriculture, integration of farming in the climate change negotiatings is moving at a slow rate, while global warming and the other factors affecting food security- primarily rapid population growth- are happening much faster.

As major driver of deforestation, agriculture is likely to be discussed as details of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) are negotiated.

Beddington referred to these as a “welcome first step”, however they’re as far short of what is needed. Experts call on scientists to assume a more outstanding role in supporting international and national policies so that talks in 2012 are informed by plain and clear data on how climate change endangers food security and what can be done to prevent disaster.

“Scientists have a responsibility to show decision makers what we mean by ‘climate-smart agriculture’ and ‘sustainable intensification’, and how these strategies are pivotal for any global climate change adaption and mitigation effort”, said Dr Adrian Fernandez Bremauntz, Advisor on Sustainability at the Metropolitan University in Mexico, and a member of the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change.