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Global land resources and population-supporting capacity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Hari Eswaran ,
Fred Beinroth  and
Paul Reich
Hari Eswaran*
Affiliation:
National Leader, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013;
Fred Beinroth
Affiliation:
Professor of Soil Science, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
Paul Reich
Affiliation:
Geographer with the Office of World Soil Resources, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013;
*
Corresponding author is Hari Eswaran ([email protected]).
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Abstract

Anticipated advances in biotechnology and sustainable land management, in combination with the availability of high-quality lands, suggest a level of food production that will sustain twice the current global population. However, lack of political will, insufficient investments in modern agriculture, and a general apathy to the tenets of sustainable land management threaten food security in Third World countries, and in some, contribute to poverty and famine. From a global land-productivity point of view, the specter of Malthusian scenarios seems unwarranted. Sadly, however, local and regional food shortages are likely to continue to occur unless mechanisms for equitable food distribution, effective technical assistance, and infusions of capital for infrastructure development are implemented in some developing countries.

Keywords

land resource qualityland resource stressfood securitysustainable agriculture
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 129 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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