ABSTRACT
Technological advances in agriculture since the 1940s have probably been masking soil degradation. Increasing pollution in some regions has already started to limit cropping with established approaches. This chapter examines food production and hunger, and ways to improve yield, security and sustainability. Serious problem and a threat, which could still menace even developed. Revolution strategies used to improve food supplies rely on techniques and inputs which hinder or prevent sustainable development, and in some areas production is declining or looks likely to do so. While genetically modified organisms might help provide sustainable and less environmentally damaging food production, they could equally run out of control and pose serious threats. Some governments have even cut back on their soil survey, one reason is that some developing countries were forced to adopt structural adjustment programmes in the late 1980s, and these have led to cuts in the environmental management funding and often trigger socio-economic changes which stress the environment.
