THE ROLE OF RESEARCH AND FARMER ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The global challenges (climate change, soil and biodiversity degradation) are affecting sustainability of food and agriculture systems, and livelihoods of millions of farmers by threating achievement of the right to adequate food worldwide. Today, hunger remains an everyday challenge for humankind and about 815 million people are still chronically undernourished. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims to end hunger and ensure access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food by all people all year round. Achieving zero hunger by 2030 will require applications of new and existing STI across the food system through an enhanced research and farmer entrepreneurship culture. A number of technological innovations can play a role in addressing concerns related to the four dimensions of food security (availability, access, and nutrition, stability) to increase the amount of food produced. Research and farmer entrepreneurship will provide long lasting solutions for Kenya’s food security through provision of quality seed for farmers, improving yields, creation of new value chains, markets and products of crops and livestock produced. Responsible research and innovation (RR&I) helps to distinguish societal obstacles which may hinder innovation implementation, as well as the values that innovation allows to help to bring about in farming. Breakthroughs are needed in research and innovation (R&I) that foster changes in the entire food system, targeting not only the food production chain, but also attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There is need to develop innovations that enhance nutrition for sustainable and healthy diets, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable food systems, circularity (recycling) and resource use efficiency of food systems, and empowerment of comThe global challenges (climate change, soil and biodiversity degradation) are affecting sustainability of food and agriculture systems, and livelihoods of millions of farmers by threating achievement of the right to adequate food worldwide. Today, hunger remains an everyday challenge for humankind and about 815 million people are still chronically undernourished. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 aims to end hunger and ensure access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food by all people all year round. Achieving zero hunger by 2030 will require applications of new and existing STI across the food system through an enhanced research and farmer entrepreneurship culture. A number of technological innovations can play a role in addressing concerns related to the four dimensions of food security (availability, access, and nutrition, stability) to increase the amount of food produced. Research and farmer entrepreneurship will provide long lasting solutions for Kenya’s food security through provision of quality seed for farmers, improving yields, creation of new value chains, markets and products of crops and livestock produced. Responsible research and innovation (RR&I) helps to distinguish societal obstacles which may hinder innovation implementation, as well as the values that innovation allows to help to bring about in farming. Breakthroughs are needed in research and innovation (R&I) that foster changes in the entire food system, targeting not only the food production chain, but also attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There is need to develop innovations that enhance nutrition for sustainable and healthy diets, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable food systems, circularity (recycling) and resource use efficiency of food systems, and empowerment of communities. Farmers are the main actors in the achievement of food self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship that is driven by their internal potential. Entrepreneurial farmers have creative and independent thinking, innovative behavior and are willing to take risks for agribusiness development by gathering resources and trying new ideas. Farmer entrepreneurship improves farm performance followed by increasing agricultural production towards national food self-sufficiency.munities. Farmers are the main actors in the achievement of food self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship that is driven by their internal potential. Entrepreneurial farmers have creative and independent thinking, innovative behavior and are willing to take risks for agribusiness development by gathering resources and trying new ideas. Farmer entrepreneurship improves farm performance followed by increasing agricultural production towards national food self-sufficiency.