As the global population surges towards an anticipated 10 billion by 2050, the imperative of meeting the heightened demand for food presents humanity with a formidable challenge

With the global population expected to reach close to 10 billion by 2050, humanity confronts the formidable challenge of boosting food production by 50% to meet this heightened demand. Addressing this challenge entails not only increasing production but also fortifying the sustainability and resilience of our food systems to ensure food security which is defined as the state when every individual, without exception, has the physical and economic means to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food meeting their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Globally, India ranks poorly in food security and hunger indices, standing 68th out of 113 countries in the 2022 Global Food Security Index and 111th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index. Numerous factors contribute to India's food insecurity, including poverty, social inequality, limited food access, price fluctuations, agricultural challenges, land ownership issues, food wastage, and natural disasters. Deforestation and climate change exacerbate these factors.

Early human societies, initially nomadic, thrived on diverse wild foods, enjoying well-nourished diets. However, between 8000-4000 BCE, a shift to settled farming and animal domestication marked the onset of agriculture, laying the groundwork for future civilizations. The rise of kingdoms and empires saw advancements in irrigation, food production, and trade. During the colonial era, large forest areas were cleared and brought under cultivation of crops that included sugarcane, cotton, spices, and fruits enriching India's food diversity.    

Even after independence, forest lands considered suitable for crops continued to be diverted for the purpose for quite some time. The Green Revolution aimed at boosting food production and self-sufficiency through high-yielding crop varieties like rice, wheat, and maize; though progressively providing subsidies to farmers. This shift led to the decline of numerous traditional and locally suited crop varieties with high nutritional value. This era also witnessed the rise of global food conglomerates, reshaping India's food security scenario often at the expense of small-scale and local producers. Parallelly globalization and urbanization introduced new cuisines, standardizing preferences leading to the decline of many diverse and traditional nutritious dishes, resulting in crop production systems becoming homogeneous and vulnerable to shocks and stresses.

India's agricultural sector and accordingly the farmers, though more specialized, became heavily dependent on external inputs and subsidies, and purely market-oriented. With just 12 crops and 14 animal species providing 98% of the world’s dietary needs, achieving sustainable food security by 2050 is indeed a complex challenge suggesting a relook at the crucial role of forests as foster mothers to agriculture.

In contrast to agriculture as an energy production system forests harbour a diverse range of flora and fauna, including pollinators and natural resources for germplasm conservation. Sustaining vital life processes such as nutrient cycling and water regulation in watersheds, they have the potential to safeguard and enrich the soil. They serve as a natural bulwark against climate change and extreme weather and nurture agriculture. Additionally, forests also provide a variety of nutritious foods like fruits, tubers, leaves, vegetables, honey and wild plants and resources supporting the traditional systems of medicine.

Forests are crucial for the dietary diversity and nutrition of forest-dependent people in addition to working as a vital support during times of scarcity. In addition, forests also offer financial opportunities like the sale of minor forest produce which contributes to income to be used to purchase diverse food items from markets. It's not surprising that there are no farmer suicide cases reported from villages in and near good forest areas.

With rising populations, however, human encroachments and changes in land use are setting the stage for wildfires, pests, and zoonotic diseases to wreak havoc. The dwindling forested areas pose a triple threat – escalating land degradation, depleting water resources, and risks to agriculture. The dependence of one-third of the world’s population on forest goods and services, however, clashes with the harsh reality that 80% of the annual net forest loss is attributable to agriculture.

Notwithstanding the damage caused to the natural systems and eco-processes due to anthropogenic forces, our production methods are also increasingly taxing the environment. They consume 70% of the world’s freshwater resources, emit nearly a third of all greenhouse gases, and heavily rely on fossil fuels for fertilizers and machinery. These practices already influenced by lost culinary diversity are pushing production limits to an undeniably unsustainable point. The situation in India ranked amongst the first five countries in the world in agricultural production, is no different.

India’s food security intricacies are deeply intertwined with the dynamics of forest conservation and agriculture. A diverse array of stakeholders; including forest dwellers, farmers, pastoralists, private companies, and government bodies each have their unique interests, rights, and responsibilities about forest as a resource. Farmers pushed against the wall, are made to believe that the remedy for their lower returns lies just in subsidies and MSP. With this approach, ensuring food security on a sustained basis is going to be difficult.

The poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 has triggered recognition of cultivation rights to ineligible people, that too on refractory lands, promoting thereby further encroachments into forest lands in India. Fragmentation of wildlife habitats and liberal diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes have increased crop predation and human-wildlife conflicts. There is a dearth of studies indicating whether the ownership of minor forest produce endowed to gram sabhas in scheduled areas has improved people’s food security. Further, the imminent adverse impact on eco-services due to relaxations in penal provisions related to forest fires, grazing, and biodiversity conservation; along with the amendments in 2012 and 2023 to the Forest Rights Rules 2008 and the Forest Conservation Act 1980 respectively cannot be over-emphasized.

The agro-ecological connection between forest conservation and agriculture is crucial in a monsoon country like India. Along with the recent emphasis on millet, it’s equally vital to include forest-derived foods and vegetables on our dietary platter. Providing free food grains to about 81 crore poor and vulnerable people for five years from January 2024, aimed at strengthening food accessibility, affordability, and availability, highlights the urgency of seeking better and sustainable solutions.

Increasing agricultural production by increasing the area under agriculture would come at the expense of natural ecosystems. The United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Report 2017 highlighted sustainable forestry as a crucial element of sustainable food systems. It strongly suggested a paradigm shift towards agroforestry, which integrates the management of trees, crops, and livestock. This holistic approach, combined with forest conservation, can bolster the long-term resilience of our food systems. Regardless of the political scenario, however, comprehensive studies may reveal the ground truth, including the intriguing trade-offs between land sharing and land sparing for forests in addressing food security. Research institutions of Forestry, Tribal, Rural Development, and Agriculture must converge and prioritize research on this crucial aspect of land use.

Further, stricter laws addressing sustainability with better implementation, good governance, preservation of gene pool, responsible behaviour of forest right holders, empowerment of farmers, closer coordination amongst stakeholder departments, and people’s active participation in institutionalizing conservation-oriented processes across related sectors are necessary to find practical solutions to achieve food security.

The road to achieving SDG2 of zero hunger by 2030 is also fraught with challenges. Further research into various aspects such as the adoption of climate-friendly technologies and a climate-smart approach coupled with convincing advocacy efforts are needed to ensure that forests and biodiversity conservation remain on the agenda of policymakers and practitioners. The complex interplay between forest conservation, agriculture, and food security paints a compelling picture of our shared responsibility to foster a sustainable and resilient ecosystem; one that can ensure food security for all, now and in the future.

(The writers are Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, UP and Maharashtra, views are personal)