Climate Change and Resilient Food Systems: Issues, Challenges, and Way Forward

This book provides insights on innovative strategies to build resilient food systems in the wake of challenges posed by climate change. Providing food security to the growing population especially in developing countries without exacerbating the environment is a major challenge. Climate change is expected to reduce agricultural productivity, leading to a decline in overall food availability and significantly increasing the number of malnourished children in developing countries. Interventions for enhancing the adaptive capacity of farmers especially of small holders needs immediate impetus. The policy formulation and development programs must reorient in the wake of the new expectations and deliverables. 

This book comprises of sixteen chapters that discuss the trends in global agriculture development and food system. The book highlights different aspects of household food and nutritional security. The chapters covering diverse aspects address food system, ruraland urban food chain, factors affecting their sustainability and short and long term solutions to make them climate resilient. Important issues having significant implications on climate change such as Waste management, Value chain, Agri-marketing, etc. are also covered. The book would be an important resource for researchers in food science, environmental sciences and agriculture. It would also be beneficial for students and future scientists working on sustainable agriculture and food security. 

Dr. Vinaya Kumar Hebsale Mallappa is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Extension and Communication at the Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India. He received his doctorate in Agricultural Extension from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, with ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship and secured four university gold medal. His recent publications are ‘Predictive factors to avoid farming as a livelihood’ (Journal of Economic Structures, 2019), ‘Impact of rainfall variability and trend on rice yield in Coastal Karnataka’ (Journal of Agrometeorology, 2017) and ‘Assessing decision-making and economic performance of farmers to manage climate-induced crisis in Coastal Karnataka’ (Climatic Change, 2017). His research interests include the climate induced crisis management, surface and groundwater management, food and nutritional security and sustainable development. 

Dr. Mahantesh Shirur is working as Dy. Director (Agricultural Extension) at National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad. He is looking after the Center for Agriculture Extension Policy, PPP in Extension and International Center for Excellence in Agricultural Extension at MANAGE. Prior to joining MANAGE, Dr. Mahantesh Shirur was working as scientist (Agricultural Extension) at ICAR –Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan and ICAR –Indian Institute of Soil and Water conservation, RC, Ballari. He has expertise on transfer of technology, impact assessment, on-farm trials and ICT application in agriculture. His contribution in the development of digital content and video documentaries on mushroom cultivation are popular as learning and teaching aids. He worked on developing and standardising the training modules on mushroom cultivation technology at ICAR-DMR, Solan, India. He has authored 30 research papers, 2 reports, 1 book, 7 popular articles, 4 book chapters and many conference proceedings. Dr. Mahantesh Shirur was the Program Director of the prestigious Feed The Future India Triangular Training (FTF ITT) and Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) International and national training programs of MANAGE during 2018-2020.