Despite a significant growth in food production over the past half-century, one of the most important challenges facing society today is how to feed an expected population of some nine billion by the middle of the 20th century. To meet the expected demand for food without significant increases in prices, it has been estimated that we need to produce 70-100 per cent more food, in light of the growing impacts of climate change, concerns over energy security, regional dietary shifts and the Millennium Development target of halving world poverty and hunger by 2015. The goal for the agricultural sector is no longer simply to maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more complex landscape of production, rural development, environmental, social justice and food consumption outcomes. However, there remain significant challenges to developing national and international policies that support the wide emergence of more sustainable forms of land use and efficient agricultural production. The lack of information flow between scientists, practitioners and policy makers is known to exacerbate the difficulties, despite increased emphasis upon evidence-based policy. In this paper, we seek to improve dialogue and understanding between agricultural research and policy by identifying the 100 most important questions for global agriculture. These have been compiled using a horizon-scanning approach with leading experts and representatives of major agricultural organizations worldwide. The aim is to use sound scientific evidence to inform decision making and guide policy makers in the future direction of agricultural research priorities and policy support. If addressed, we anticipate that these questions will have a significant impact on global agricultural practices worldwide, while improving the synergy between agricultural policy, practice and research. This research forms part of the UK Government's Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures project

This chapter describes CABI's initiatives in promoting integrated pest (insects, pathogens, weeds and nematodes) management, briefly covering contributions in terms of pest diagnosis and advisory services, rational pesticide use, biological control and biological pesticides, soil and seed health, farmer participatory training and research, technical support to the Global IPM Facility, agricultural biotechnology, and information generation and dissemination.

This chapter discusses the geographical distribution of basal stem rot (BSR; caused by Ganoderma spp.) of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), the symptoms of BSR disease, economic importance, epidemiology (mycelium contact and Ganoderma basidiospores), predisposition factors associated with BSR disease (e.g. age of oil palm, previous crops, soil type, nutrient status and planting technique), early detection of BSR, and management strategies for BSR (including cultural, chemical and biological control).

Genetic diversity among isolates of the bacterial plant pathogen Burkholderia solanacearum (synonym Pseudomonas solanacearum) race 3 biovar II of Kenya was determined by PCR with repetitive sequences (ERIC and BOX repetitive primer sets) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA digested by rare-cutting restriction endonucleases (RC-PFGE). The study comprised 46 isolates collected during 1992 from the major potato-growing regions of Kenya (45 were identified as race 3 biovar II, and 1 belonged to race 3 biovar N2) and 39 reference isolates from 19 other countries. RC-PFGE identified 10 distinct profile types among the Kenyan race 3 biovar II isolates (29 of the isolates exhibited identical profiles) and a further 27 distinct profile types among the reference isolates. ERIC and BOX primer sets were unable to differentiate race 3 biovar II isolates within the Kenyan population but differentiated a further two distinct profile types among the reference isolates. The race 3 biovar N2 isolate had a highly distinct RC-PFGE and repetitive sequence PCR profile. Statistical analysis of the data identified biogeographic trends consistent with conclusions drawn from previous studies on the origin and worldwide dissemination of race 3 biovar II isolates; however, genomic fingerprinting by RC-PFGE revealed a level of genetic diversity previously unrealized.

This chapter presents the results of trials conducted to investigate the efficacy of sanitation in basal stem rot (BSR; Ganoderma sp.) management at Bah Lias Research Station in North Sumatra, Indonesia, over a period of several years. The trials were designed to assess the relative importance of various tissue remnants (from stumps, trunks and roots) from the old palm stand as potential sources of inoculum at replanting. Molecular fingerprinting techniques became available which allowed confirmation of the origin of the pathogen in infected seedlings. Disease development and overt symptom appearance depended on the size of palm when it becomes infected, its continued growth vigour and the size of the inoculum. Small seedlings close to large disease sources were rapidly killed. Larger, rapidly growing plants were also affected, but often did not die quickly. The results confirmed that the times of greatest significance for BSR control are: (1) soon after planting, when suitable inocula remain in the ground from the previous planting (oil palm stumps or root debris); and (2) later in the planting cycle, when root contact is made with Ganoderma-colonized sections of palm trunks resting on the ground in rows (windrows).