Blog post from Prof. H. O. Srivastava

Prof. Dr. Sir H. O. Srivastava, IBS, K. St. J
M.Sc. M.Phil, Ph. D. (Info Sys.), Ph. D. (Chemistry), D. Lit. (Management)

Global catastrophes looming as per Global Risks Perception Survey 2023
Amidst swiftly advancing technological innovations and economic instability, the world grapples with two formidable challenges: climate change and conflict. Geopolitical tensions and outbreaks of active hostilities across various regions contribute to a global order marked by divisive narratives, diminishing trust, and heightened insecurity. Rising living costs, exacerbated by persistent inflation and interest rate hikes, compound the economic uncertainty prevalent in many parts of the globe. As we step into mid-2024, the findings of the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) paint a predominantly pessimistic picture of the world over the next two years, with expectations of further deterioration over the subsequent decade. Conducted in September 2023, the survey reveals that 54% of respondents anticipate a moderate risk of global catastrophes with global temperature rising to a 3°C climate tipping point.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), around 660 million people are projected to still be affected by hunger by the year 2030. This concerning statistic highlights the ongoing challenge the world faces in eradicating global hunger and food insecurity, despite decades of efforts and commitments to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by the end of the decade. In addition, 800 million population suffering from hunger have been promised free food in India up to 2029. This accounts for about one-fifth of the world’s population that will remain hungry and suffer malnutrition up to 2030. SDG is lacking and its Goals are admittedly becoming unachievable. Precision agriculture emerged in 1980, as a solution aimed at mitigating environmental repercussions and maximizing the efficiency of crop inputs. As of now, the ground reality is that during the period 1990 to 2021, the use of fertilizer has increased by 3.73 times, pesticides by 19.66 times, freshwater by 1.3 times, and the global surface temperature rose from 0.400 C to 1.180 C. Precision agriculture has been mainly confined to the large farm holders in developed countries. Over 3.1 billion individuals, constituting 42 percent of the global population, faced challenges affording a nutritious diet in 2021. The persistence of this crisis underscores the need for decisive, coordinated action from governments, international organizations, and stakeholders across the food system to address the complex, multifaceted drivers of hunger and ensure access to adequate, nutritious food for all.