Soil and Land Resources for Agricultural Production: General Trends and Future Scenarios-A Worldwide Perspective

摘要

Based on the global distribution of land and soil quality and the world population, future trends in the agricultural use of land and soil resources are described, which will severely compromise future global food and fiber production through the increase and the spatial changes of world population, through the loss of fertile land caused by insufficient soil management and through urbanisation and industrialization Moreover, future changes in life style and the increasing demand for food and bioenergy, trough changes in world economy, through climate change and a worldwide decrease in fresh water supply, sustainable land use for the production of food and fiber will be under threat.Until 2050 global food production must be doubled for satisfying global needs. Our scenarios should help to preview future changes, to counterbalance and to mitigate possible negative impacts, thus sustaining global food security.