Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Energy News .




FARM NEWS
World can increase food supply, study says
by Staff Writers
Minneapolis (UPI) Aug 30, 2012


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Food production for a growing global population can be increased with a reduction in the environmental impact of agriculture, U.S. and Canadian researchers say.

Scientists from the University of Minnesota and McGill University in Montreal say more strategic use of fertilizer and water could dramatically boost the crop yield feed a global population expected to double by 2050 -- and also reduce the adverse environmental impact of agricultural practices.

"We have often seen these two goals as a trade-off: We could either have more food, or a cleaner environment, not both," Minnesota researcher Nathaniel Mueller said. "This study shows that doesn't have to be the case."

Management and yield data for 17 major crops were used to analyze how much water and nutrients it would take to bring underperforming farmlands up to their full potential. Careful use of water and nutrients could increase production 45 percent to 70 percent for most crops, the researchers said, with the greatest opportunities for yield improvement to be found in Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and South Asia.

Closing the so-called yield gap on underperforming lands holds great promise for sustainably boosting food security, they said.

"This work should serve as a source of great encouragement and motivation for those working to feed the 9-billion-plus people anticipated to live on this planet in 2050 while protecting Earth's indispensable life support systems," Mueller said.

.


Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








FARM NEWS
Brazil's Rousseff vows to stand firm on environment defense
Brasilia (AFP) Aug 30, 2012
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff warned Thursday that she will not all environmental protection to be eroded, after a pro-agribusiness congressional panel backed changes to the new forestry law. "We are a country which has major strength in this area. It is of the utmost importance that we honor the commitments with respect to the environment," she said at the end of a speech to business an ... read more


FARM NEWS
Russian Arctic resources

Zimbabwe utility halts disconnections

India's Reliance Power and China Datang ink deal

Romney touts energy independence by 2020

FARM NEWS
Thai firm pleads guilty over Australian oil spill

China can 'safeguard' territory amid dispute: Xinhua

U.S. diplomat claims he was misquoted

Oil mixed as US facilities avoid hurricane's fury

FARM NEWS
Japan starts up first offshore wind farm

Maximum Protection against Dust; Minimal Effort

US Wind Power Market Riding a Wave That Is Likely to Crest in 2012

Wind farms: A danger to ultra-light aircraft?

FARM NEWS
Merkel says favours solving solar dispute via talks

Drexel-Penn Partnership to Develop More Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Panels

Microwave ovens may help produce lower cost solar energy technology

Novel technique to synthesize nanocrystals that harvest solar energy

FARM NEWS
Japanese majority favor zero nuclear power

IAEA head says don't relax on nuclear safety

Greens see red after French minister hints at nuclear U-turn

Hundreds join anti-nuclear rally in Tokyo

FARM NEWS
Japan toilet maker showcases 'poop-powered' motorbike

Biorefinery makes use of every bit of a soybean

Warning issued for modified algae

Genetically Engineered Algae For Biofuel Pose Potential Risks That Should Be Studied

FARM NEWS
China eyes next lunar landing as US scales back

China unveils ambitious space projects

Is China Going to Blast Past America in Space?

Hong Kong people share joy of China's manned space program

FARM NEWS
Carbon efficiency failing to fight warming: study

Past tropical climate change linked to ocean circulation

Drastic desertification

Forest Razing by Ancient Maya Worsened Droughts




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement