New Security Beat

The topic of climate change on agriculture does not get the attention it should, especially with China. Another problem I remember reading about last year was the trash in China. There are literally mountains of trash, can anything be done to mitigate this? Should we be most concerned with this problem before beginning to tackle the larger issues involving agriculture?

I don't know much about the trash/pollution situation in particular (other than it's bad), but as with other PHE issues, improving agricultural practices has a broad range of positive side effects. I don't think China, or anything other country for that matter, can afford to pick just one area or another to focus on at this point - a broad, integrated approach encompassing multiple fields is what's needed.

Good point about an integrated approach. As far as the agricultural practices go, does anyone know of anything being done? Is it research of methods, or more of an infrastructure problem?

I think it's both, but considering China's vast rural tier, probably more on the infrastructure and capacity building side of things for them.

Ag research is also important to keep pushing as well though (not just in China, but here too - go land grant colleges!). The Green Revolution saw an enormous increase in crop yields that has helped keep food prices down over the last couple decades, but since then, growth in the ag sector has slowed considerably. Many have said that without a second Green Revolution (and we need R&D for that), we could face serious issues feeding all these mouths.

Watch these pages for the forthcoming write-up of the Sept 2nd meeting at the Wilson Center with NYU's Alex Evans (also blogger on Global Dashboard). Alex makes a compelling case for integrated analysis of the ag/food security issue (where he highlights the decline in productivity increases) but also connects it to water, energy, population trends etc. Very compelling work.

Does anyone think there will be a decisive point involving this problem with agriculture and a growing population? Or possibly lead to conflict is a solution is not implemented in a timely manner?

It's tough to say there will be a single decisive point Chloe, but there was certainly low-level conflict as the result of the food price spike in 2008 and some deaths from riots this summer. For more in the context of some of this summer's food security concerns, Global Dashboard's Alex Evans has a good run down on some of the issues.