There are two broad criteria by which one can judge humanity's success in feeding itself: (i) the proportion of people whose access to basic nutritional requirements is secure; and (ii) the extent to which global food production is sustainable. Even though the two are related, they have usually...

The extent of genetic diversity in food crops is important as it affects the risk of attack by pathogens. A drop in diversity increases this risk. Farmers may not take this into account when making crop choices, leading to what from a social perspective is an inadequate level of diversity

The extent of genetic diversity in food crops is important as it affects the risk of attack by pathogens. A drop in diversity increases this risk. Farmers may not take this into account when making crop choices, leading to what from a social perspective is an inadequate level of diversity.

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyrights Page -- Table of Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Ch. 1: Living in a Complex World: An Introduction to Resilience Thinking -- Case Study 1: Carving up a National Icon - The Florida Everglades -- Ch. 2: The System Rules: Creating a Mind Space...

In previous papers we have considered the optimal mix of biodiversity in semi-arid rangelands, focusing on the steady state. This paper addresses the question of conservation in the optimal use of rangelands. That is, it considers the optimal trajectory of biodiversity change. There are two...

This paper articulates and applies frameworks for examining whether consumption is excessive. We consider two criteria for the possible excessiveness (or insufficiency) of current consumption. One is an intertemporal utility-maximization criterion: actual current consumption is deemed excessive...

Malaysia’s rice sector is highly protected, with the protection justified largely by arguments for food security. The government intervenes in the rice market by providing subsidies to farmers and consumers as well as imposing high import duties. Furthermore, the rice trade is controlled...