Solutions for a cultivated planet

Jonathan A. Foley (), Navin Ramankutty, Kate A. Brauman, Emily S. Cassidy, James S. Gerber, Matt Johnston, Nathaniel D. Mueller, Christine O’Connell, Deepak K. Ray, Paul C. West, Christian Balzer, Elena M. Bennett, Stephen R. Carpenter, Jason Hill, Chad Monfreda, Stephen Polasky, Johan Rockström, John Sheehan, Stefan Siebert, David Tilman and David P. M. Zaks
Additional contact information
Jonathan A. Foley: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Navin Ramankutty: McGill University
Kate A. Brauman: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Emily S. Cassidy: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
James S. Gerber: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Matt Johnston: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Nathaniel D. Mueller: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Christine O’Connell: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Deepak K. Ray: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Paul C. West: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Christian Balzer: Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California
Elena M. Bennett: McGill University
Stephen R. Carpenter: Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin
Jason Hill: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Chad Monfreda: Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (CSPO), Arizona State University, 1120 S Cady Mall
Stephen Polasky: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Johan Rockström: Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, SE-106 91
John Sheehan: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
Stefan Siebert: Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Katzenburgweg 5, D53115
David Tilman: Institute on the Environment (IonE), University of Minnesota
David P. M. Zaks: Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), University of Wisconsin, 1710 University Avenue

Nature, 2011, vol. 478, issue 7369, 337-342

Abstract: Feeding a growing world sustainably In the coming years, continued population growth, rising incomes, increasing meat and dairy consumption and expanding biofuel use will place unprecedented demands on the world's agriculture and natural resources. Can we meet society's growing food needs while reducing agriculture's environmental harm? Here, an international team of environmental and agricultural scientists uses new geospatial data and models to identify four strategies that could double food production while reducing environmental impacts. First, halt agricultural expansion. Second, close 'yield gaps' on underperforming lands. Third, increase cropping efficiency. And finally, we need to change our diets and shift crop production away from livestock feed, bioenergy crops and other non-food applications.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature10452

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