International action will be needed to deal with major issues like climate change in the future

International collective action will be needed to tackle global-level challenges, like the climate change which a United Nations expert panel has warned will increase the risk of conflict, hunger, floods and migration this century.

National-level efforts will not be enough, such as individual government responses to the opportunities presented by investment in the “green economy”.

That’s why “Is Better Global Governance of the Food System the Answer?” is the question posed in the next event of the Teagasc & RDS public lecture series 2012-2014. The lecture title is “Grand Challenges for Global Agriculture and Food”, presented by Dr Maximo Torero, director of the markets, trade and Institutions Division at the International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC.

It will take place in the Merrion Room at the RDS in Dublin, on Tuesday, April 15 at 6.30pm (registration starts 5.45pm).

Questions posed include who will lead the transitions to an economy which sustainably uses scarce natural resources, and who will take the decisions in multilateral governance that will promote consultation and co-operation between nations.

Without that progress, tech-nolo gical breakthroughs, changing consumer behaviour and market reforms will not be enough.

Various attempts have been made over the years within the context of the existing system of multilateral governance to set up consultation and co-operation fora on water, energy, food, minerals and other natural resources. However, these efforts have, for the most part, not been successful.

It is only in the areas of food and climate change policies that there are global frameworks in place for consultation and co-operation. In par ticular, the FAO has sought to develop an integrated approach in the area of food scarcity, by linking sustainable agricultural development to issues of water, food security, climate change, biodiversity and bioenergy.

Despite long-standing acceptance of the need to conserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development, both of these goals still remain as aspirations, representing failure both on the part of governments and of the market.

More information is available in the event section of the www.teagasc.ie website, or contact the Teagasc & RDS public lecture series team at [e-mail] or at 01-2968688.