This paper connects the discussion on the trade-offs between agricultural production and environmental concerns, including the asserted need for global land use expansion; and the issues of rural livelihoods and food security. Several widespread narratives are challenged. The key insights are:...

In face of increased efforts to mitigate climate change, biofuels may be included in reduction plans forgreenhouse gas emissions. Feedstock for first generation biofuels and food crops both use arable land andmay compete for it. Also, fuel is an input for the production and transport of food....

Land use and land use change are determined as much by economic and institutional drivers as they depend on bio-physical conditions. Future pathways of socio-economic and environmental systems can only be assessed with scenarios which describe possible future paths of development. For this...