Future of Food - Crisis Prevention - Economist Feb 26 2011

In the latest edition of the Economist there is an excellent article focusing on food supply and prices.  It ends with a plea to allocate more international funds for the Consultative Group research organizations.  A good point.  CG research mainly focuses on crop and animal breeding and water management (irrigation kind!).  It does little research relating to rainfed soil and water conservation in those areas that cannot access irrigation water.  This applies particularly to south Asia and Africa.  The Vetiver System's thin "green" low cost barrier of vetiver grass when planted across the slope will spread out and slow down precious rainfall runoff (rain that with climate change more often or not comes less frequently, but at higher intensity).  There is plenty of evidence to show that such barriers will reduce soil loss by as much as 90% (and thus reduce nutrient loss as well) and will reduce runoff by as much as 70% (the saved run off ends up as recharge for aquifers.  In addition we have plenty of reports of 30% yield gains from crops grown in association with VS.  Gains that come from better soil fertility, better soil moisture (drought protection), and reduced damage by insects and other pests. 

The CG and national research organizations need to pay a lot more attention to addressing on farm soil and water loss - including how the Vetiver System could be used more widely for this purpose.