GEOG 315 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Sustainable Agriculture, Ecosystem Services, Soil Retrogression And Degradation
4 Feb 2020
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Document Summary
A doubling in global food demand projected for the next 50 years poses huge challenges for the sustainability both of food production and of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Agriculturalists are the principal managers of global useable lands and will shape, perhaps irreversibly, the surface of the earth in the coming decades. New incentives and policies for ensuring the sustainability of agriculture and ecosystem services will be crucial if we are to meet the demands of improving yields without compromising environmental integrity or public health. Global population and grain demands will double by 2050. How can we double food production without compromising environmental integrity and public health: article focuses on the scientific and pollical challenges with intensive agricultural production. ~ half of global usable land is in intensive agriculture. Loss of natural ecosystems and significant nitrogen and phosphorus release: triple with doubling of food production. Provide food, fibre, fuel and materials for shelter.
