Over 150 Nobel and World Food Prize laureates, including the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize team and Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors discovery, have issued an urgent call for a global initiative to boost food production, warning of the forthcoming world hunger crisis. The coalition, which includes renowned scientists, emphasizes the need for research and technological advancements to address the increasing imbalance between food supply and demand.
The letter highlights the critical challenges posed by climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and market pressures, urging for “planet-friendly” solutions to meet the needs of a growing global population, expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. Moreover, the signatories highlight the necessity of concrete political direction and financial support to accelerate innovation and ensure food security.
Quoting the issue of stagnating crop yields and the global impact of climate change, particularly in Africa, the laureates warn that without substantial progress, the world faces a future of increased food insecurity and instability. They propose prioritizing scientific breakthroughs, such as enhancing photosynthesis in staple crops and developing weather-resilient crops, to secure a sustainable food future.
Euroseeds hopes that the scientific findings and the voices of these esteemed scientists will be heard, and that Europe will open its doors to seed innovations, embracing the necessary advancements to tackle and overcome the challenges posed by climate change.
