In 2009, for the first time since the 1950s and the early stages of the Green Revolution, food security was taken seriously by policy-makers. There was substantial output from the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development, and with studies by the U.S.

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.

Rodent losses are a perennial problem worldwide. In Asia, for instance, rodents devour an estimated 6% of the annual rice harvest

Analysts estimate that nearly 2 million of Uganda's 31 million people experience food insecurity due to supply problems or rising prices. Nearly 80% of the people in some regions depend on food aid to survive. Such problems could worsen as Uganda's population, which has been increasing at more than 3% per year, surges to an estimated 100 million by 2050.

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.

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.

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.

Farmers in mixed crop-livestock systems produce about half of the world

To feed the several billion people living on this planet, the production of high-quality food must increase with reduced inputs, but this accomplishment will be particularly challenging in the face of global environmental change. Plant breeders need to focus on traits with the greatest potential to increase yield.