Agricultural Intensification and Sustainability

Abstract

Agricultural revolutions in the past have been characterized by synergistic interactions between several innovations, which have yet to emerge with biotechnology. Although the intensification of agriculture has created new problems of sustainability, it has ameliorated others. The developing countries, with four-fifths of the present world population to support on only half of the arable land, currently have about 800 million chronically undernourished people, yet must also provide for nearly all further population growth. Nevertheless, financial support for the required agricultural research in the less developed countries (LDCs), although less than 3% as much as the annual OECD expenditure on support for its own agriculture, is currently being reduced. Only with a substantial boost to aid for the funding of public sector agricultural research in and for the developing countries will they be able both to eliminate chronic malnourishment and feed the additional two or more billion people.

Keywords

intensification sustainability agricultural evolution agricultural research world food situation

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