Keeping it niche is key to global agri-food success

FUTURE farming will have to be sustainable and efficient, with global food production needing to almost double over the next 40 years to meet demand, according to a new Rabobank study.

Food prices will continue to soar, and the big winners in farming will all be upper tier, quality producers. The bank’s book, The Future of Farming: The Rise of the Rural Entrepreneur, cites a Unilever project with small holder tea farmers in Kenya.

The Kenyan farmers’ more sustainable practices resulted not only in 5-15% greater yields, but also delivered improved tea quality, reduced input costs and higher tea prices. As a result of getting a better price for their better product, these farmers’ incomes increased by 10-15%.