Author Description

A discussion meeting was held at the Royal Society in London in December 1996 which brought together leading scientists concerned with natural resource management to make a critical assessment of the production potential of the available land. The papers have also been published as an issue of The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. This book is a product of the meeting and its conclusions also draw upon a follow-up meeting hosted by the Ciba Foundation in London. It describes in detail current pressures on land and water resources, the effects of climate on productivity, the need for crop improvement, better management of water, soil and nutrients, economic factors and environmental limitations. From the presentations and discussions a set of conclusions is drawn concerning our ability to feed the world population and the steps which must be taken to ensure that we achieve this aim. This book is essential reading for practitioners and students of agronomy, forestry, soil science and ecology concerned with natural resource management, and presents information which will also be of value to economists, policy makers and environmentalists with an interest in global issues.