GLOBAL food security will require a "series of mini-revolutions" in production, the Outlook ABARE conference in Canberra heard today.

And the World Trade Organization has been called on to "discipline" countries using import tariffs and quotas.

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research chief executive Dr Nick Austin said the population increase was occurring at the same time as climate change challenged agriculture’s ability to produce.

"What is necessary is not one revolution in agricultural productivity, but a series of country-specific responses to spark a range of mini-revolutions in productivity that leverages off intellectual capital and an understanding of the environment," Dr Austin said.

University of Adelaide Professor of Economics Dr Kym Anderson said climate change and an "anti-trade bias" in agricultural policies in some governments were a worry for food security in developing countries.

"Government assistance to the farm sector insulates producers from price signals, while protectionist trade policies have resulted in slower growth in trade and thinner world food markets, together with increased price volatility," Dr Anderson said.

"This global problem requires a global solution, namely more World Trade Organisation discipline against policies such as import tariffs and quotas and export restrictions that limit growth in agricultural trade."