By 2050, the global food requirement will increase significantly, driven by a population increase to more than nine billion and by a richer diet. There is a need for agricultural and food systems that are not only more productive, but also sustainable. Currently, progress is hampered by a lack of understanding how to close the yield and sustainability gap. The consequence is stagnation in implementing policies and regulations that meet future needs. The challenge of meeting global food security in a sustainable way requires a knowledge-intensive approach and the use of advanced technologies. The confidence in modern agrotechnologies and biotechnologies should be restored by sound science, transparency and regulatory institutions.