The Greatest Dilemma
“Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.” — Norman Borlaug’s Nobel Lecture in 1970
The rapid growth of the human population threatens to overturn the finely tuned balance between civilization and nature. We have either gone past or are reaching the boundaries of arable land available for human use without permanently altering the biosphere, and by the year 2050 the world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people. Intense agricultural advancements and breakthroughs are necessary to succeed in a race against our own downfalls to prevent catastrophic starvation and famine on a global level.
Fortunately, many research institutions exist to push the boundaries of current scientific knowledge and to challenge the status quo concerning modern agricultural practices. Through my internship at the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) in Taiwan, I am acquiring valuable first-hand experience working at an institute focused on alleviating regional and global poverty through the use of crop diversification, sustainability, and teaching proper farming techniques. From what I have experienced in my first few weeks being an intern at this institution is that there is determination everywhere. Determination to accomplish one’s tasks, determination to make the scientific leaps necessary for breakthroughs, and determination to identify the resources and knowledge that will provide a better future for countless people across the globe. I will admit that I was apprehensive the first day of my internship, but I quickly learned that everyone at the institute was willing to help me along my educational journey, and it wasn’t long before I noticed the extensive collaboration taking place between the different departments of the World Vegetable Center to accomplish a common goal.
The pepper breeding team that I have had the honor of joining constantly faces the monumental task of breeding peppers for fungal, insect, bacteriological, and viral resistance while withstanding the threats of excessive heat, drought, and floods without compromising the marketability and nutritional value of the crops. Since it isn’t a viable option to breed a pepper to be perfect in every category, regional needs and preferences are considered when determining a laboratory focus. Nonetheless, the center’s readiness to create quality vegetable cultivars has provided food insecure populations with dependable crops to sell and consume.
It is somewhat ironic that my internship is located at the World Vegetable Center, since my favorite green food has generally come from a Skittles package. However, upon arrival in Taiwan, I was immediately enraptured by the vegetables being grown, and quickly recognized their unique feasibility for aiding food insecurity, especially in locations where agricultural space is limited. Interestingly, the meals I’ve consumed so far during my stay in Taiwan have consisted mainly of vegetables and have as much or more nutritional value than my traditional American diet. A big talking point of the World Vegetable Center is to simply eat more vegetables. Vegetables are rich in vital nutrients and can play a pivotal role in combating widespread malnutrition around the world. According the World Health Organization, “Their (micronutrients) lack represents a major threat to the health and development of populations around the world, particularly children and pregnant women in low-income countries.” Small vegetable gardens are a gamechanger for both smallholder farms and urban residents and can be implemented wherever space is available using a wide range of techniques to make use of even the smallest of spaces. These gardens allow people to obtain a large portion of their necessary daily nutrients from inside their own homes.
After learning about the endless opportunities that something as small as a vegetable can provide, I am thankful for the scientists who dedicate their academic tenacity toward strengthening the nutritional value of vegetables in order to make a positive impact in the fight against malnutrition. The year 2050 is right around the corner and, due to my experiences at the World Vegetable Center, I am confident that current and future generations are going to be able to make the innovations necessary to sidestep global catastrophe. It is only through a collaborative effort and a combination of all aspects of improved agriculture that we will be able to face our looming dilemma of sustainably feeding the world.
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References:
· https://avrdc.org/our-work/enhancing-consumption/
· https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html
· https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/micronutrients/en/
· https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1970/borlaug/lecture/
