Next year's Rio+20 meeting must put science-based innovation at the heart of the development agenda. But the real battle will be political.

The Horn of Africa drought exposes the continuing gap between our ability to predict disaster and to take effective humanitarian action.

Recent protests over food prices underline a key message from a new report about the potential dangers of neglecting agricultural research.

Policymakers need better information about the regional impact of climate change on water supplies, and on ways of adapting to it.

Even focused research will not deliver agricultural progress unless donors also help join up links in the development chain.

Science can help design strategies to tackle malnutrition. The challenge is turning this knowledge into action.

More agricultural research funding and a farmer-centred approach to boosting food production are needed to prevent future food emergencies.

Science can help developing countries facing commodity-price and climate turmoil: the biggest challenge is how to ensure it does.

A recent report is a welcome analysis of modern agriculture's future, but it fails to adequately recognise the role of science and technology.