The world faces a permanent food crisis and global instability unless countries act now to feed a surging population by doubling agricultural output, a report drafted for ministers of the Group of Eight nations has warned.
Between India Shining and Jai Ho, through four years of high growth that India became the story of global markets, not much has changed on the ground, it would seem. Between aspirational Indians vying for better and richer lifestyles, there are millions still below the poverty line.
India trails badly on the human development indicators. Illustration: Saurabh Singh
Nitrogen-based fertilisers have helped all but eradicate famine in large parts of the world. But reactive nitrogen in circulation has now doubled. Owen Gaffney asks, what effect is this having on the carbon cycle?
