Reduce Food Production Research Articles

Agricultural landscape structure and invasive species: the cost-effective level of crop field clustering

Invasive pests in agricultural settings may have severe consequences for agricultural production, reducing yields and the value of crops. Once an invader population has established, controlling it tends to be very expensive. Therefore, when the potential impacts on production may be great, protection against initial establishment is often perceived to be the most cost-effective measure. Increasing attention in the ecological literature is being given to the possibility of curbing invasion processes by manipulating the field and cropping patterns in agricultural landscapes, so that they are less conducive to the spread of pests. However, the economic implications of such interventions have received far less attention. This paper uses a stochastic spatial model to identify the key processes that influence the vulnerability of a fragmented agricultural landscape to pests. We explore the interaction between the divergent forces of ecological invasion pressure and economic returns to scale, in relation to the level of clustering of crop fields. Results show that the most cost-effective distances between crop fields in terms of reducing food production impacts from an invasive pest are determined by a delicate balance of these two forces and depend on the values of the ecological and economic parameters involved. If agricultural productivity declines slowly with increasing distance between fields and the dispersal range of the potential invader is high, manipulation of cropping structure has the potential to protect against invasion outbreaks and the farmer can gain benefit overall from maintaining greater distances between fields of similar crops.

Amaranth Plant: Protects Climate, Health and Development by Controlling Root-Knot Disease

Plant diseases, caused by pathogens, significantly reduce food production particularly in the developing world. Syntheticand chemical- pesticides are the most effective means of control, but they are expensive and not environment friendly. Population growth and rapid urbanization are putting considerable pressure on water available for irrigation. The “evils” of synthetic- and chemical- pesticides has been a major concern to environmentalists. To move forward, it will require new and more efficient solutions, technologies and products. Our best endeavor is to focus on the edible Amaranth which may have important economic implications for agriculture in future. In a well-protected garden of Kanchannagar DN Das High School (HS), Government of West Bengal, naturally-infested with Meloidogyne incognita, Kofoid and White, Chitwood, amaranth (Amaranthus viridis L.) cv. CO-1 was intercropped with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cv. Ankur-40 to determine the effects on nematode populations. The nematode population varied from 2573- 2639 per 200 g of soil. Amaranth was planted in between every two okra plants. All the plants were harvested at 70 days after plantation. Of the two plant species, amaranth received maximum infection in terms of root gall number, nematode population in root, root protein content and plant growth parameters. Though both the amaranth and okra plants were susceptible to root-knot nematodes. Amaranth was more susceptible than okra in terms of root-gall number nematode population in root and root protein content. Okra has also the lowest root-gall number and nematode population in root. While M. incognita population increased significantly both in soil as well as in roots in 70 days in the monoculture. But amaranth showed the highest intensity of nematode infection. These results suggest that root-knot disease easily and effectively controlled by the use of amaranth plants as “trap crop” for root-knot nematodes intercropped with okra plants in the naturally root-knot infested field. As intercrop amaranth could be harvested at frequent intervals to keep the nematode population to a minimum level. This way amaranth could serve as highly effective Climate Friendly Catch Crop protecting other crops from invading larvae. The farmers would be benefited double; by controlling root-knot nematodes in the naturally infected agricultural field, and by buying and selling the edible amaranth plant regularly from the intercropped agricultural field. Intercropped amaranth also improves the plant growth effectively which directly increase photosynthesis rate and significantly reduce CO2 in the environment and it would not only be easier way, easily available, cheap but also conserve our biodiversity which will contribute towards “Sustainable Climate, Health and Development by controlling root-knot diseases which is sometime devastating to all kinds of natural and artificial vegetation.”

A framework for integrated assessment of food production economics in South Asia under climate change

Agriculture is a sector vulnerable to climate change. The potential decline of crop yields from this vulnerability has important policy implications for food security in South Asia. In this study an integrated assessment modelling framework is proposed to link a global economic model with global climate models via an econometric model of crop productivity. It is then used to examine the impact of climate change on food security in individual South Asian countries by exploring the interaction between climate-induced productivity change and changes in food production and food prices. The results of our simulations suggest that unfavourable climate change can reduce food production significantly from the historical trend and create upward pressure on food prices. This, in turn, will have serious adverse impacts on food security in the South Asian region.

Assessing the regional food insecurity in Bangladesh due to irrigation water shortage in the Teesta catchment area

Bangladesh is losing huge food production from the Teesta catchment area due to a lack of availability of irrigation water in the dry and lean period because of unilateral water withdrawal in the upstream country, India. The area, which is directly dependent on the irrigation water of the Teesta river, is the study area for this paper. The study reveals that rice production in Dalia, Nilphamari, Sayedpur and Rangpur regions is badly affected by the irrigation water scarcity. It appears that production is particularly severely affected in Rangpur, making it a relatively more food insecure area in the Teesta basin. The major finding of this study is that more than 4.45 million metric tons of rice production have been missed from the Teesta catchment area since 2006–07, triggered by the massive irrigation failure of the Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project (TBIP) due to reduced water flow in the Teesta river. The total rice production missed in the north-western region since 2006–07 is more than the country's total rice import during 2008/09–2013/14 fiscal years and nearly one quarter of the total boro production in the 2012/13 fiscal year. This reduced food production renders the north-western part of the country a food insecure region from its own production.

The potential of CAM crops as a globally significant bioenergy resource: moving from ‘fuel or food’ to ‘fuel and more food’

4–15% of the 2.5 bn ha of semi-arid land globally could generate 59 PW h year−1of electricity without reducing food production, enough to make a major difference to global GHG emissions. The key is anaerobic digestion of a class of understudied, under-developed and hyper-water-efficient plants that use the crassulacean acid metabolism.

Climate change and health in Earth's future

AbstractThreats to health from climate change are increasingly recognized, yet little research into the effects upon health systems is published. However, additional demands on health systems are increasingly documented. Pathways include direct weather impacts, such as amplified heat stress, and altered ecological relationships, including alterations to the distribution and activity of pathogens and vectors. The greatest driver of demand on future health systems from climate change may be the alterations to socioeconomic systems; however, these “tertiary effects” have received less attention in the health literature. Increasing demands on health systems from climate change will impede health system capacity. Changing weather patterns and sea‐level rise will reduce food production in many developing countries, thus fostering undernutrition and concomitant disease susceptibility. Associated poverty will impede people's ability to access and support health systems. Climate change will increase migration, potentially exposing migrants to endemic diseases for which they have limited resistance, transporting diseases and fostering conditions conducive to disease transmission. Specific predictions of timing and locations of migration remain elusive, hampering planning and misaligning needs and infrastructure. Food shortages, migration, falling economic activity, and failing government legitimacy following climate change are also “risk multipliers” for conflict. Injuries to combatants, undernutrition, and increased infectious disease will result. Modern conflict often sees health personnel and infrastructure deliberately targeted and disease surveillance and eradication programs obstructed. Climate change will substantially impede economic growth, reducing health system funding and limiting health system adaptation. Modern medical care may be snatched away from millions who recently obtained it.

How the choice of biofuel system in a small-scale Swedish organic farm affects food production and NPK balance

Modern agriculture is causing extensive environmental damage. Arguments have been put forward that a systemic change is needed in agriculture to address the major environmental challenges faced by mankind. This is a case study of a research farm whose aim is to form a farming system that has a minimal impact on carbon and nitrogen cycles while maintaining biodiversity. For the farm to minimise its impact on the global carbon cycle and associated climate change, it is important to reduce fossil energy use. The research farm has minimised all its inputs, but uses a diesel-run tractor. Agriculture's primary function is to provide food of adequate quality. The hypothesis of this study is that using biomass from arable land for tractor work on the farm would reduce the amount of food produced relative to using fossil fuel for tractor work. The objective of this paper was to develop scenarios for biomass-derived tractor work for the study farm chosen and to investigate their impact on food production. Food availability was measured by the number of people the farm could supply, denoted as Np. A farm nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) balance was also applied to the different scenarios. The investigated scenarios for replacing fossil fuel tractor work were draught horsepower combined with cold-pressed rape-seed oil in a tractor, ethanol from wheat produced in a conventional ethanol plant, and farm-made ethanol from potatoes. Using wheat and potato to produce ethanol reduced food production by 23% and 18% respectively, compared to using conventional diesel. Combining a draught horse and on-farm cold-pressed rapeseed oil only reduced the food production by 6%. N is maintained in all scenarios due to the nitrogen-fixing leys. P can be maintained in the fields if bones are recycled, but nutrients, especially K, are moved from meadow to field.

Homeopathic Medicines Protect Environment, Health and Development by Controlling Mulberry Diseases

Plant diseases, caused by pathogens, significantly reduce food production particularly in the developing world where farmers have little knowledge of these pests. In sericulture, mulberry is an economical plant because silk production depends on the nutritive quality of the leaves which is hampered by various pathogen attacks like nematodes, fungus, virus, bacteria and insects etc. Recently, synthetic- and chemical- pesticides are the most effective means of control, but they are both expensive and environmentally unfriendly. The “evils” of synthetic- and chemical- pesticides has been a major concern to environmentalists. The use of chemical pesticides may achieve a measure of control of those mulberry diseases but there remains the problem of residual toxicity in the treated plants and this toxicity results in reduced palatability of the leaves to the feeding silkworm larvae, reduction in growth of the larvae and also in silk production. These are serious issues which directly cause crises of financial losses, food productions, and climatic changes, but in combination, their impact could be catastrophic for the global economy. To move forward will require new and more efficient solutions, technologies and products. Climate change and resource productive economies are now universally recognized as a significant global environmental challenge. To meet the challenge of the problems, a number of plant bio-nematicides though effective and easily biodegradable are not easily available in large quantities from natural sources and isolation of only a small quantity of an effective metabolites requires huge quantities of plant materials. This would result in rapid depletion of natural resources, particularly in tropical regions. Indiscriminate use of plant resources have already created problem of biodiversity conservation in the world. Bio-nematicides from animal origin (like nematode extract) reduce nematodes infestation in different plants and root callous by using their defense- response against nematode infection. But it remains as a problem. To conquer this situation, the only ‘Homeopathy’ can solve all the above mentioned problems. Here, Homeopathic medicines; Cina, prepared from the flowering meristems of Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) pamp and Aakashmoni, prepared from the funicles of Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn, mixed with distilled water @ 7.2 mg/ml, were applied by foliar spray once daily for 15 days @ 10ml/plant on mulberry (Morus alba L., cv. S1) are highly effective in ameliorating mulberry diseases; root-knot [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood], leaf spot [Cercosporam moricola (Cooke)], powdery mildew [Phyllactinia corylea (Pers.) Karst], mosaic disease (mosaic virus) and tukra disease [Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green)]. Both the drugs also improve the plant growth effectively which directly increase photosynthesis rate and significantly reduce CO2 in the environment. Both the drugs also improve the growth of silkworms, shell weight, sex ratio percentage [SR%] and egg laying capacity of mother moth and also increase silk production and effective rate of silkworms rearing [ERR] commercially which directly enriches sericulture industry as well as agriculture sector. These cost-effective homeopathic medicines are easily available, biodegradable, non-phytotoxic and non-pollutant as well as conserve our biodiversity which will contribute towards “Sustainable Environment, Health and Development

Land Use and Reactive Nitrogen Discharge: Effects of Dietary Choices

Abstract Modern agriculture alters natural biological and geophysical processes, with magnitudes proportional to its spatial extent. Cultivation is also the main cause of artificially enhanced reactive nitrogen (Nr) availability in natural ecosystems. Sustainable food production should thus minimize Nr use while maximizing human-destined caloric output per acre. The authors demonstrate that it is possible to design realistic, nutritionally sound plant-based diets that require a quarter to a half of the Nr and a quarter to a third of the land the mean American diet’s animal-based portion does. Broad application of these findings (e.g., by incorporating environmental considerations into official dietary recommendations) would reduce food production’s environmental impacts dramatically.

The Phytomanagement of Trace Elements in Soil

Trace elements (TEs) occur at low concentrations (<1000 mg kg −1) in organisms, yet they have a large biological effect, both as essential nutrients and environmental contaminants. Phytomanagement describes the manipulation of soil-plant systems to affect the fluxes of TEs in the environment with the goal of remediating contaminated soils, recovering valuable metals, or increasing micronutrient concentrations in crops. Phytomanagement includes all biological, chemical, and physical technologies employed on a vegetated site. Successful phytomanagement should either cost less than other remediation or fortification technologies, or be a profitable operation, by producing valuable plant biomass products. This may include bioenergy or timber production on contaminated land, a practice that does not reduce food production. We review the components of phytomanagement and the underlying biogeochemical processes, with a view to elucidating situations where this technology may be successfully applied and identifying future research needs. Many full-scale operations have proved the efficacy of plants to reduce contaminant mobility in soils (phytostabilization), particularly when used in combination with other technologies. As a stand-alone technology, the oft-touted use of plants to extract TEs from contaminated soils (phytoextraction) or low-grade ore bodies (phytomining) is unsuitable for most, if not all, sites due to low-extraction rates and problems caused by site heterogeneity, the limited rooting depth of plants and the presence of contaminant mixtures. Unsubstantiated claims about phytoextraction have tarnished the reputation of all “phyto” technologies. Nevertheless, phytoextraction, as part of a larger environmental toolkit, has a role in phytomanagement. The growth, or lack thereof, of profitable companies that provide phytomanagement will indicate its value. A critical knowledge gap in phytomanagement is the integration of the processes that affect plant–TE interactions and the biophysical processes affecting TE fluxes in the root zone, especially the effect of roots on contaminant fluxes.

Model estimates food-versus-biofuel trade-off

Biofuels have been criticized for raising food prices and reducing food production. While biofuels have rightly been blamed for contributing to reduced food security at a time of record-high food prices in 2008, they have not been credited with reducing the cost of gasoline, also at a time of record-high prices. We discuss the food-versus-biofuel trade-off associated with biofuel production and model the effects of biofuel production in markets for key crops and gasoline, showing that food consumers lose from biofuels but gasoline consumers enjoy substantial benefits. We also suggest ways to address the food-versus-biofuel debate.

Vulnerability and adaptation of Chinese agriculture to global climate change

Global climate change is now widely recognized, although some uncertainties remain. Being sensitive to climatic conditions, agriculture will be influenced by climatic changes. The major effects can be generalized as changes in the geographical limits to agriculture, changes in crop yields and impacts on agricultural systems. Chinese agriculture is particularly sensitive to climatic change and variability. Given prospects for huge population increase and the already intense utilization of resources, there is a serious threat to China’s ability to feed itself. Thus, adaptation and adjustment to climatic change are urgently in need of attention. Climate is inherently variable and uncertain, so researchers should recognize this reality of climate in assessing implication for agriculture. A variety of approaches are suggested to reduce food production’s when appraising the effect of climate change on vulnerability to climate.

Ethical issues concerning potential global climate change on food production

Burning fossil fuel in the North American continent contributes more to the CO2 global warming problem than in any other continent. The resulting climate changes are expected to alter food production. The overall changes in temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide, insect pests, plant pathogens, and weeds associated with global warming are projected to reduce food production in North America. However, in Africa, the projected slight rise in rainfall is encouraging, especially since Africa already suffers from severe shortages of rainfall. For all regions, a reduction in fossil fuel burning is vital. Adoption of sound ecological resource management, especially soil and water conservation and the prevention of deforestation, is important. Together, these steps will benefit agriculture, the environment, farmers, and society as a whole.

The demography and management of large cyprinids in a reservoir on the Orange River, South Africa

The population dynamics of smallmouth yellowfish, Barbus holubi, and Orange River labeo, Labeo capensis, was studied in a large reservoir from 1978 to 1983. These two species made up over 90% of the catches in a fleet of experimental gillnets, but there were considerable fluctuations in catch and in the size and species composition of the catch. These variations largely resulted from changes in environmental conditions caused by hydrological management. Yellowfish breed in the inflowing Orange River, which is regulated through a large reservoir upstream. Spawning success is variable but generally good, and depends on time of spawning which is influenced by pattern of water release. The juveniles disperse well throughout the 80-km-long lake and sub-adults are generally most abundant near the dam wall where the water is clearest. Sharp decreases in water transparency caused by the short retention time of flood waters in the two impoundments greatly reduced the carrying capacity of the lake for yellowfish, and resulted in declining body condition and large-scale mortalities. This species could probably withstand intensive exploitation in the lake. Orange River labeo breed throughout the lake, but conditions for spawning and early survival are variable, leading to variable reproductive success. This species is relatively stationary, but dispersal in the lake is enhanced when decreased water transparency reduces food production. Although growth is very poor at times of high turbidity, mortality remains low and the ultimate size reached by individual fish varies little. Therefore, this species cannot sustain an intensive fishery, but lends itself well to exploitation on an accumulated stock basis. A fishery for labeo should complement a commercial fishery for yellowfish.

Differing Perspectives on the World Food Problem: Discussion

For most people in the developed countries, the major World Food Problem is the continuing large number of undernourished people in the less developed countries. Why does this problem persist? International comparisons show a close correlation between food adequacy and average per capita income; household consumption studies show a similar close correlation within countries (Reutlinger and Selowsky). This evidence suggests that most hungry people are poor people in poor countries. That is, the world food problem is caused by poverty that results in inadequate demand. But international data also can be looked at from another perspective. In some poor countries there is inadequate food to meet the average needs of the population. For many countries aggregate food demand has grown faster than aggregate food supply, and for most countries of Africa population has grown more rapidly than food production over the past decade (Mellor). This evidence suggests that the world food problem is caused by inadequate supply. These rather simplified observations indicate that increases in both food supply and food demand are needed if the world is to solve the problem of hungry people. This conclusion is not inconsistent with Falcon's analysis, an analysis which gives many insights into changing perceptions of the world food problem. However, one must recognize that just as there is no worldwide food strategy, there is no worldwide operational definition of the food problem, only operational definitions of national food problems. Political realities and the economic nature of the demand for, and supply of, food affect policy makers' understandings of national food problems. Because short-run supply and demand for basic food commodities are price inelastic, slight shortfalls in supply lead to sharp price increases. And, as pointed out by Falcon, the demand for food in the aggregate is quite responsive to income, especially when consumption patterns begin to include livestock products. The national food problem that is clearest to leaders in developing countries arises from shortfalls in supply--the problem that results in domestic tensions, riots, or revolutions. When supply increases more rapidly han demand, prices move sharply downward, but this is not viewed as a crisis except by farmers, who have little political power in developing countries. Domestic political incentives are on the side of preventing price rises, and price stabilization policies tend to push prices down over time. Where such policies are not offset by investments that increase agricultural productivity, their long-run impact is to reduce food production, making the problems more difficult.

Strategies for reducing fat in the UK diet

This article examines the risks associated with the levels of fat consumption found in the UK. The major sources of fat in the UK diet are identified and the authors outline a number of strategies by which a useful reduction in fat intake may be achieved. The changes proposed involve only minor modification to existing food habits but would result in substantial public health benefits and would have valuable economic effects by reducing food production costs and through import savings.

Food and Population: A Long View

The recent predictions, that per capita food production will decline, are consistent with the basic classical argument of the early 1800’s that the growth rate of the world population tends to exceed that of food production. These views are founded on presumptions of major constraints to increasing crop yields and a continuing high rate of world population growth.2 The alleged constraints to food production growth, however, give little recognition to the diversity of the food-population problems among different economies of the world, let alone take account of the economic factors which affect the incentive to reduce food production costs.