Sir Gordon Conway, an Ecologist from the Imperial College London well experienced in development policy, describes an environment with three key challenges for food security. Challenges for food production. 1. One billion people hungry in the world. 2. A necessity of increasing food production by 70 to 100%. 3. A world price-crisis that still now is causing problems for marginalized people in developing and developed countries. The higher demand for food is explained by a rising population, an increase in income of some countries with economic growth and energy policies (demand for bio-fuels). On the other hand, degraded lands, degraded water, impact of climate change is negatively affecting food production at a global scale. “Marginalized people are those who own less than 2 hectares of productive land, involving 400-500 million of smallholders, most of them in Asia and Africa.” Sir Gordon Conway, Key Note Speaker at Tropentag 2011. Multiplier effect of agriculture. Development of agriculture is a good strategy for alleviating poverty unlike other activities because it has a high multiplier effect in the economy and society (as currently mining is the main land usage in several African countries). “I propose to make a business for getting money to agriculture farming. It is needed to improve efficiency of the agriculture production at small scale, while causing minimum negative effect in the environment”. What kind of interventions are needed? Mix cropping, small scale irrigation and home gardening are good tools to be encouraged. Conventional technologies also play an important role. Nevertheless, he points out the importance of an accurate use of them (such as with micro doses of fertilizers, incorporation of transgenic crops for use of herbicides or new adapted varieties of rice). There is a need for macroeconomic policies in favor of markets and trade for the marginalized farmers. Sustainable urban agriculture, farmer organizations, mobile communication facilities and connectivity can all contribute to building an enabling environment. “Small farmers are placed at the center of networks, with good networking in local trade systems and with agro-dealers as suppliers of technological input. An increased involvement and investment from “rich African banks” was suggested, they should be financers of smallholders. We must aim for security of land tenure, no corruption –or at least “minimal corruption”, and efficient yet fair markets; all this considering the negative effects of climate change impacts. “Do more with less.” Agriculture should be approached to also mitigate climate change using win-win solutions like conservation farming. The future of production systems are those including legume trees in high productivity mix system. Yields can be increased without having to cultivate more land. Priorities should lie in adopting agricultural techniques that promise better yields with less inputs such as Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI) techniques. In rural areas technology helps social development, such as solar panels to provide light in homes allowing children to read and study. Gordon summarizes it as a Green Revolution that is equitable and sustainable.