CLIMATE CHANGE : SAGO AGRO-FORESTRY AND FOOD SECURITY

A distinction is made between the facts affecting food production and demand for food from an expanding population, the fact of forest conversion to meet that demand and, on the other hand, the uncertainty arising from the observed vegetational, atmospheric, and hydrological changes which are taking place at the present time.
An attempt is made to distinguish between anthropogenic and cyclical climatic perturbance.

The author criticises some aspects of the crop-choice and cropping system selection of the so-called green revolution.
He stresses the need to view food production systems, not just in terms of the direct agronomic cost, but in terms of the robustness, both of the crop and the cropping system.
This view is needed to insure against uncertainty, taking into account the energy and environmental costs and the overall efficiency of the system.
He discusses how sago fits into this revolution in agricultural philosophy.

Stanton, W. Robert, 73 Stanbury, Keighley, W. Yorks, BD22 OHA, UK. Private consultant, Tel. (0535) 643482. Fax (0535) 646624.

V International Sago Symposium

R.W. Stanton

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.389.5