32. Forgotten Facts: Research and Development Priorities

Some high priority issues for research and development, and those which were not discussed included the followings: (1) Realizing the difference between climate and weather so that the confusion in short-term changes rather than the long-term trends can be minimized, and any opportunities emerging from changing climate are harnessed, (2) Evaluating water resources in terms of green vis-à-vis blue and grey water with the objective to enhancing the green water supply by conservation of blue water in the root zone and recycling of the grey water, along with the judicious use of virtual water through international trade, (3) Understanding sequestration of carbon in soils as secondary carbonates along with that as humus in the soil and the biomass-C in trees and other biota, (4) Assessing additional requirements of water and nutrients (N, P, S) for plantation and trees, and conversion of biomass-C(with low N, P, S) into humus, (5) Alleviating constraints(biophysical and socioeconomic) to adoption of recommended management practices by smallholder and resource-poor farmers, (6) Differentiating between genuine investments by overseas companies and the land grabs, (7) Developing nutrition-sensitive agriculture on the basis of the principle that healthy soils are essential to healthy plants, animals and people, (8) Making payments to farmers for provisioning of numerous ecosystem services for promoting adoption of best management practices, and creating another income stream towards alleviating poverty, (9) Addressing gender and other issues which affect agronomic productivity and wellbeing of under-privileged and minorities, and (10) Realizing the importance of interconnectivity and the nexus-approach to harness the benefits of a holistic approach to sustainable management of natural resources and for realizing the goals to sustainable intensification for advancing food security and developing climate-resilient agro ecosystems.