Dick Ziggers: In April a 2,500 page report was presented in South Africa called International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development [IAASTD] which advocates a new way of farming using modern technology without losing sight of improvements in small scale farming. The report - the first significant attempt to involve governments, NGOs and industries from rich and poor countries - took 400 scientists four years to complete. The present system of food production and the way food is traded around the world has led to a highly unequal distribution of benefits and serious adverse ecological effects and was now contributing to climate change.   Read more…