Strategies for Agriculture.

An economist and a climatologist suggest that the world will be able to produce enough food to feed its 10 billion people in 100 years. This will happen if we adopt new agricultural technologies that reduce erosion salinization desertification and other environmental harm. A strong agricultural research network of organizations already exists which can develop these technologies given enough financial support and leadership. But markets are currently unable to protect resources and benefit the farmer. The depletion rate of natural resources used by agriculture (water land and genetic diversity) determines new agricultural technology development. Desertification exists on all continents especially in the African Sahel. Nevertheless satellite pictures indicate that even the desertified Sahelian rangeland and farmland can recover. Specifically green vegetation advances farther north into the Sahel during years with good precipitation than it does during dry years. Technology already exists to prevent salinization which often accompanies or fosters desertification. For example trickle or drip irrigation distributes water directly and continuously to a limited area near each plant where salts do not have a chance to build up and reduce water uptake. Multiple cropping (crop rotations intercropping double cropping and overseeding legumes) decreases environmental damage increases corp yield reduces dependence on chemicals and preserves genetic diversity. Since market mechanisms and regulations do not make for sound social policy sustainable agriculture will occur if individual and societal interests merge instead of trying to override each other. Institutions need to develop mechanisms that accurately warn of growing social scarcities of land water and genetic diversity to foster global agricultural development.