Africa missed out on the scientific breakthroughs that revolutionized agriculture in Asia. However, with locally developed and locally relevant technologies, a built-up human and institutional capacity, and supportive national policy and leadership, an African Green Revolution can be a reality.
Although seafood is the most highly traded food internationally, it is an often overlooked component of global food security. It provides essential local food, livelihoods, and export earnings. Although global capture fisheries production is unlikely to increase, aquaculture is growing considerably.
China is the world's largest user of synthetic fertilizer, consuming 36% of the global total. As a result, China's farmers have exceeded soil needs, causing nitrates to accumulate and create serious pollution problems. And the hunger for nitrogen has added to China's energy and greenhouse gas emissions: In the atmosphere, those nitrates form nitrous oxide, a potent warming gas.
Precision agriculture comprises a set of technologies that combines sensors, information systems, enhanced machinery, and informed management to optimize production by accounting for variability and uncertainties within agricultural systems.
Food security is a growing concern worldwide. More than 1 billion people are estimated to lack sufficient dietary energy availability, and at least twice that number suffer micronutrient deficiencies. Because indicators inform action, much current research focuses on improving food insecurity measurement.
Food security and energy security. They are increasingly becoming two sides of the same coin. Many experts predict that, over the long term, one can't be achieved without the other. In part, that's because increasing yields has traditionally meant using more fossil fuels
Population growth, arable land and fresh water limits, and climate change have profound implications for the ability of agriculture to meet this century
Amid mounting attacks on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a small number of its volunteer leadership has tried to respond to the horde of bloggers and reporters as well as explain themselves to colleagues. Prominent among them has been ecologist Christopher Field of the Carnegie Institution for Science. Science excerpts a 5 February phone interview with him.
What caused the series of more than 20 ice ages that have come and gone during the past 2 million years of Earth history? On page 860 of this issue, Dorale et al. (1) reveal a new twist in the most recent ice age cycle and demonstrate once again the rapidity with which large ice sheets can come and go.
