The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) brought together more heads of government than any meeting in history. While it focused world attention on critical issues of sustainability and natural resources, the Earth Summit, as it came to be known, mapped out a plan of action for future global partnership to achieve concrete goals: Agenda 21.
As a follow-up to this landmark event, the UN Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development held its first meeting in March 1993. During the meeting, individual agencies were assigned to serve as task managers for relevant chapters of Agenda 21.
FAO's responsibilities comprise the "land cluster" of Agenda 21: water resources, forests, fragile mountain ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture and rural development. FAO also chairs two UN Sub-Committees to coordinate the implementation of Agenda 21 chapters on oceans and water resources.
The role of the task manager is to promote consultation and integration within the UN, promote joint activities and programmes, encourage information exchange, help develop common strategies, and consolidate and analyse information for the Commission for Sustainable Development. To move the process ahead, in 1993 FAO organized interagency consultations on forestry (March) and sustainable agriculture and rural development (May). Two important documents were produced: the FAO/IIED Review of policy management systems and methods of analysis for SARD which examines the policy context of sustainable agriculture and rural development; and Strategies for sustainable rural development: The role of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The Organization also contributed to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention to Combat Desertification. Meanwhile, throughout FAO efforts were made to fine-tune programmes and projects to balance the demands of increased production against environmental and sustainability concerns. Some examples follow.
Twenty-nine experts from 15 countries attended the Expert Consultation on Biofuels for Sustainable Development held at FAO headquarters in September 1993. Together with 23 FAO staff, they studied the use of fast-growing plants, crop residues and manure to produce biomass that would offer an environmentally sound substitute for fossil fuels.
Plant biomass also provides energy in the form of high-quality animal feed. FAO pilot projects in Latin America and the Caribbean are exploring the use of tropical tree species and herbaceous cover for animal fodder. Because of the photosynthesis involved in their growth cycle, use of these plants also helps counter the greenhouse effect by sequestering carbon from the air.
To develop the potential of biofuels, the participants in the expert consultation recognized the need to apply a concerted approach addressing land-use policies, agronomy, forestry, energy and environmental issues. They urged FAO to take the lead in establishing an international programme to help countries assess and develop biofuel opportunities.
The tasks assigned to FAO at the meeting included:
These multidisciplinary activities will be guided by the FAO Energy Working Group.
Rapidly expanding human populations are increasing the demand for agricultural products and, in response, production is being intensified. To help foresee and forestall the possible negative side effects of intensified production, and enhance positive ones, UNCED called for a better understanding of the influence of agricultural development practices on the natural resource base.
FAO is coordinating a major interagency study to expand the information base on interactions between livestock production systems and the environment. Methane emissions from stomach fermentation in ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and buffaloes account for an estimated fifth of the world's methane gas, close to 3 percent of total greenhouse gasses. By improving livestock feed quality, farmers can boost production while limiting harmful gas emissions.
Improvement in feed will also lead to more efficient conversion into meat and milk, permitting smaller herds and therefore reducing the temptation to clear forests for grazing land. In the developing countries, widespread overgrazing leads to ground cover destruction, soil erosion and depletion of water resources. Recent estimates charge overgrazing with 35 percent of all human-induced soil degradation worldwide; in Africa, the figures reach 49 percent.
Other issues that will be assessed by the study include animal manure management, animal waste disposal, domestic animal genetic diversity, wildlife diversity, and the integration of cropping and livestock systems.
One of the Agenda 21 missions spearheaded by FAO is to achieve increased food production by improving plant nutrition systems. In 1993, the Organization renamed its Fertilizer Programme to reflect essential changes in approach.
Under the new Plant Nutrition Programme, FAO promotes activities at the farm level for sustainable nutrient management based on the entire cropping cycle. The Programme helps farmers to combine plant nutrition systems, establishing the best association of biological (manure, crop residues), mineral and naturally occurring nutrients to achieve a balanced supply while controlling losses and enhancing labour productivity.
As farmers learn to manage cropping systems effectively and use mineral fertilizers more efficiently, they become less dependent on external supply. At the same time, they avoid unnecessary release of nitrogen into the atmosphere, thus reducing the buildup of dangerous greenhouse gasses.
Breeding research for improved plant nutrition concentrates on selecting and incorporating traits that will enhance a variety's nutrient uptake and utilization. In addition, the Plant Nutrition Programme helps governments develop sound policies and strategies at the national level, encouraging them to adapt or create institutions and organizations for the regulation of nutrient production, supply and use.
An expert consultation held in Rome at the end of 1993 studied possibilities for strengthening the integration of environmental and sustainable development issues in agricultural education and extension. Participants at the meeting confronted a twofold agenda: to take stock of the current situation; and to set a course for the future of agricultural education and extension in sustainable rural development.
Based on 20 case-studies, they developed guidelines for analysis and recommendations for action. The main tasks included:
Finally, the participants stressed the need for allocation of new resources to achieve these ends, particularly in the developing countries. The expert consultation is being followed up by regional workshops to discuss and plan concrete activities based on the recommendations.