Journal ArticleDOI
Sustainable intensification in African agriculture
TLDR
In this article, the authors report that food outputs by sustainable intensification have been multiplicative and additive, by combining the use of new and improved varieties and new agronomic agroecological management (crop yields rose on average by 2.13-fold).Abstract:
Over the past half-century, agricultural production gains have provided a platform for rural and urban economic growth worldwide. In African countries, however, agriculture has been widely assumed to have performed badly. Foresight commissioned analyses of 40 projects and programmes in 20 countries where sustainable intensification has been developed during the 1990s–2000s. The cases included crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture and novel policies and partnerships. By early 2010, these projects had documented benefits for 10.39 million farmers and their families and improvements on approximately 12.75 million ha. Food outputs by sustainable intensification have been multiplicative—by which yields per hectare have increased by combining the use of new and improved varieties and new agronomic—agroecological management (crop yields rose on average by 2.13-fold), and additive—by which ...read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Yield Trends Are Insufficient to Double Global Crop Production by 2050.
TL;DR: Detailed maps are presented to identify where rates must be increased to boost crop production and meet rising demands, which are far below what is needed to meet projected demands in 2050.
Journal ArticleDOI
Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers
TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive review of 73 historical reports of insect declines from across the globe, and systematically assess the underlying drivers of insect extinction, reveals dramatic rates of decline that may lead to the extinction of 40% of the world's insect species over the next few decades.
Journal ArticleDOI
The significance of soils and soil science towards realization of the United Nations sustainable development goals
Saskia Keesstra,Johan Bouma,Jakob Wallinga,Pablo Tittonell,Pete Smith,Artemi Cerdà,Luca Montanarella,John Quinton,Yakov Pachepsky,Wim H. van der Putten,Richard D. Bardgett,Simon Moolenaar,G. Mol,Boris Jansen,Louise O. Fresco +14 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore and discuss how soil scientists can help to reach the recently adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the most effective manner and recommend the following steps to be taken by the soil science community as a whole: (i) embrace the UN SDGs, as they provide a platform that allows soil science to demonstrate its relevance for realizing a sustainable society by 2030; (ii) show the specific value of soil science: research should explicitly show how using modern soil information can improve the results of inter-and transdisciplinary studies on SDGs related to food security
Journal ArticleDOI
Food security and sustainable intensification
TL;DR: It is argued that the magnitude of the challenge is such that action is needed throughout the food system, on moderating demand, reducing waste, improving governance and producing more food, and sustainable intensification strategies are needed.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People
H Charles J Godfray,John Beddington,I. R. Crute,Lawrence Haddad,David Lawrence,James F. Muir,Jules Pretty,Sherman Robinson,Sandy M Thomas,Camilla Toulmin +9 more
TL;DR: A multifaceted and linked global strategy is needed to ensure sustainable and equitable food security, different components of which are explored here.
Journal ArticleDOI
Social capital and economic development: Toward a theoretical synthesis and policy framework
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyse the notion of capital social and souligne that cette notion caracterise un reseau de relations sociales jouissant d'une certaine autonomie and d'un relatif enracinement dans la vie sociale.
World development report 2008 : agriculture for development
TL;DR: Agriculture is a vital development tool for achieving the Millennium Development Goal that calls for halving by 2015 the share of people suffering from extreme poverty and hunger as mentioned in this paper, which is the overall message of this year's World Development Report (WDR), the 30th in the series.
Posted Content
The Theory of Environmental Policy
TL;DR: In this article, Baumol and Oates provide a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of the economic theory of environmental policy and present a formal, theoretical treatment of those factors influencing the quality of life.
Journal ArticleDOI
Social Capital and the Collective Management of Resources
TL;DR: The term social capital captures the idea that social bonds and norms are critical for sustainability, where social capital is high in formalized groups, people have the confidence to invest in collective activities, knowing that others will do so too.
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