Tropical Soils and Food Security: The Next 50 Years

Tropical Soils and Food Security: Tropical Soils and Food Security: The Next 50 YearsThe Next 50 Years

Author: Michael A. Stocking

Summary: Shirley Shi

Critique: Pete Cabral

California Polytechnic State University

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Introduction To SummaryIntroduction To Summary

Address the issue of the energy future

Focus on the relation between the topical soil and food security

Summarize author’s opinionSupport the background for the

critique of this article


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Food SecurityFood Security

UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) definition:– All people, all time– Physical and economic access– Sufficient, safe, and nutritious food– Meeting dietary needs and preference– For active and healthy life


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Current ConditionCurrent Condition

More than 1 billion people have no food security

60% of rural communities in the tropic and subtropics are affected by decline in food production– Sub-Saharan Africa– Part of Latin America– Part of Caribbean– Part of Central Asia


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Headline ChallengesHeadline Challenges

Political impact– Conflict over land

Climatological impact– Drought– Global warming

Epidemiological impact– AIDS/HIV on farm labor

Changing of soil quality


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Soil QualitySoil Quality

The capacity of a soil – To function within land use and

ecosystem boundaries– To sustain biological productivity– To maintain environmental quality– To promote plant, animal and human

health


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Soil Quality and Human DemandSoil Quality and Human Demand

A dynamic and diverse production system– Human demand– Biological attribute– Chemical attribute– Physical attribute– Nutrition of the soil and replenishing


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Impact of Soil QualityImpact of Soil Quality

Excessive off-take of nutrients in crops without replenishment

Pets and diseases Weed infestations Climate changing Available water capacity Soil organic carbon source Soil biodiversity Salinity and acidification


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Erosion-Yield RelationshipErosion-Yield Relationship

Negative exponential curves Erosion is selective Predict the future food yield and security


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Modeling Erosion-yield-time Modeling Erosion-yield-time RelationshipRelationship


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Resilience and SensitivityResilience and Sensitivity


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Author’s OpinionAuthor’s Opinion

Local farmers understand the concept of soil quality in the forest-savanna zone

Farmer have skills and social networks for sustaining soil quality and security

Community-based approaches to empower farmers to manage their own situation


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Conclusion To SummaryConclusion To Summary

Soil resources are a dynamic element, not static

Many farmers are willing and able to invest in the future

Farmers should be the best arbiters of choice, not just the science itself


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Introduction to Critique Introduction to Critique

Objective indicators– Author and the article credibility

Subjective indicators– Article credibility

Author’s opinionConclusion


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Objective Indicators – Author CredibilityObjective Indicators – Author Credibility

Educational degrees– BA – Masters in Philosophy– PhD

Current concentrations– Tropical agricultural development– Land resources and soil conservation– Biological diversity on agricultural lands


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University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK– Dean of the School of Development

Studies (DEV) • Professor in Natural Resource Development

– Member of the Overseas Development Group (ODG)

• Natural Resources & Environment Research Group


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Legacy of experience– Involved in tropical agricultural development,

land resources and soil conservation since 1969 (~35 years to date)

Specific geographical field experience– Sub-Saharan Africa– South America – South and South-east Asia


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Current engagements– Loess Plateau in China

• Biological diversity and erosion in agricultural lands.

– Special adviser to Department for International Development (DFID, UK)

• Hillside production systems

– UN University and Environment Program (UNU/UNEP) • Biodiversity

– GEF-funded Project on People, Land Management and Environmental Change

• Collaboration with over 200 developing country scientists to develop demonstration sites of agrodiversity

– TSBF in Nairobi• Soil fertility


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Objective Indicators – Article CredibilityObjective Indicators – Article Credibility

Article composition

* 54 reference citations

Content Quantity

[~ pages]

Quantity

[~ %]Text 2 60

Diagrams ⅔ 20

References * ⅔ 20

Total 3 ⅓ 100


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10

6

7

3

5

7

0

1

4

2

0

1

0 0 0

1

7

0

1

2

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4

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10

Qu

anti

ty

2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 n/a

Date


Analysis of references by date


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Analysis of references by type

22

14

8

2

8

0

5

10

15

20

25

Qu

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tity

Journal Article Book Report, Paper, Presentation

Press Release, News Article

Web Portal

Type


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Analysis of references by organization8

2

1

3

40

UN (includes FAO, UNU, WHO, WFP)

International Food Policy ResearchInstitute

World Bank

USDA

Other


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Subjective Indicators – Article CredibilitySubjective Indicators – Article Credibility

Article uses 11 of 54 references (20.4 %) with contributions from the author– Contributions either as author or editor– Appears excessive, however he is an

expert in the field and uses shared authorship in these references


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Subjective Indicators – Article CredibilitySubjective Indicators – Article Credibility

Systematically identifies soil itself as a risk to food security, even without the affect of external factors– Sensitivity versus Resilience in soil

Cites real world solutions that involve a practical applied approach, possibly without direct scientific theory as input– Trashliness, using uprooted weeds and green

waste to impede sediment run-off


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Author’s OpinionAuthor’s Opinion

“’Tragedy of the commons’ scenarios can be averted by pragmatic local solutions that help farmers to help themselves.”– Indicated that farmers do desire to use soil

resources efficiently, but require practical solutions

– Indicated that practically applied solutions have the greatest chance of success


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Conclusion to CritiqueConclusion to Critique

Objective Indicators– The author is experienced in the subject and

has collaborated with credible global organizations for first-hand experience

Subjective Indicators– Fresh view of soil’s dynamic internal

properties and their affect on food security Author’s Viewpoint

– “’Tragedy of the commons’ scenarios can be averted by pragmatic local solutions that help farmers to help themselves.”

Tropical Soils and Food Security: The Next 50 Years

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