Engineers and sustainable food security - Challenges and prospects

Sustainable food security is the key to national security. Without having achieved self sufficiency in the food sector, a nation cannot maintain its integrity, prestige and honour. Above all, a country cannot defend its geographical and ideological frontiers if it is unable to provide food and feed of the required quality and quantity to its citizens. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations 800 million people in the world are chronically undernourished. 90% of these people belong to the developing nations. Because of malnutrition 12 million children die before reaching the age of five years. Two billion people suffer from micronutrients deficiency commonly known as "hidden hunger." By the year 2030 global population will increase to 8 billion for which 20% projected increase of food is needed. The arable land is rapidly shrinking. 250 million people are affected by desertification. Pakistan is an agricultural country with a population of 146 million. Ironically 25% people are undernourished and 75% are suffering from malnutrition. Despite having the largest contiguous irrigation network, Pakistan imports foodstuff to the tune of millions of US dollars. Engineers are the builders of nations. Their role is second to none in the arena of development at any level. They are required to perform multifarious tasks like project management, planning, designing, construction, manufacturing and operation/maintenance. The engineers play the most dominating role in the cycles of sustainable development and sustainable environment. Agricultural productivity can be increased by providing optimum inputs, that is, good quality seed, suitable fertilizers and manures, recommended pesticides, modern farming practices and ensuring the required amount of water to the crop. Engineers' role figures out at all stages of tillage and with respect to the agricultural inputs. The engineers take part in development and manufacture of agricultural implements, construction of dams, barrages, canals and allied on-farm-water-management practices and manufacture of other inputs. It is foremost duty of the world engineering community to help the comity of nations to attain self-sufficiency in the food needs. Prospects for achieving the aim of global, regional and national food security are bright. The engineers need to develop disciplines like genetic engineering, biotechnology and sound land management practices, rehabilitation of polluted resources and damaged ecosystems for the purpose of increasing productivity. If they work in unison with strategic partnership for the sole purpose of serving the humanity, they can make tremendous contribution towards orchestrating the sustainable societies.