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Global Harvest Initiative’s 2014 GAP Report® Uncovers Productivity Gaps

The Global Harvest Initiative has released its 5th annual Global Agricultural Productivity Report® (GAP Report®), an annual snapshot of agricultural productivity growth measured against growth in global population and food demand.

Before a global audience of scientists, policymakers, agricultural industry leaders, farmers, and development professionals at the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, leading experts pointed out that — for the first time in several years — global agricultural productivity is not accelerating fast enough to meet the expected agricultural demand by 2050 through sustainable practices.

In addition, the GAP Report’s regional analysis uncovers significant productivity gaps:

  • In East Asia, only 67 percent of food demand by 2030 will be met from within the region if the current rate of productivity growth is maintained.

  • At current rates of productivity growth, Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to meet only 15 percent of food demand in 2030, which will require significant imports, or food assistance, or opening up new land to development that may not be suitable for sustainable production.

  • In Latin America, overall regional production is expected to exceed demand with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay leading this increase in productivity. This region will likely serve as a critical source of food and agricultural supply to meet the demand of Asia’s growing and more affluent and urban population.

Read the full 2014 GAP Report® Press Release.

Robynne Anderson

Robynne has extensive experience in the agriculture and food sector, working throughout the value chain – from basic inputs to farmers in the field to the grocery store shelf. She works internationally in the sector, including speaking at the United Nations on agriculture and food issues, and representing the International Agri-Food Network at the UN.Throughout her career she has worked with farm organisations like the Prairie Oat Growers Association, the National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi and the Himalayan Farmers Association, as well as global groups, to further the voice of agriculture in the food debate. She has also worked with Fortune 500 companies growing worldwide businesses to assist them with issues management and strategy decisions.

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