World on the Edge Released 2004
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Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures

Lester R. Brown

In this groundbreaking work, Lester Brown documents the ways that human demands are outstripping the earth's natural capacities-and how the resulting environmental damage is undermining food production. In Outgrowing the Earth, Brown investigates these issues and outlines the steps needed to secure future food supplies.

Table of Contents:

Foreword » (pdf)
Acknowledgements » (pdf)

  1. Pushing Beyond the Earth's Limits » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Losing Agricultural Momentum »
    Growth: The Environmental Fallout »
    Two New Challenges »
    The Japan Syndrome »
    The China Factor »
    The Challenge Ahead »
     
  2. Stopping at Seven Billion » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    A New Demographic Era »
    Population, Land, and Conflict »
    The Demographic Transition »
    The Demographic Bonus »
    Two Success Stories »
    Eradicating Poverty, Stabilizing Population »
     
  3. Moving Up the Food Chain Efficiently » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Up the Food Chain »
    Shifting Protein Sources »
    Oceans and Rangelands »
    The Soybean Factor »
    New Protein Models »
     
  4. Raising the Earth's Productivity » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Trends and Contrasts »
    Fertilizer and Irrigation »
    The Shrinking Backlog of Technology »
    Future Options »
     
  5. Protecting Cropland » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Losing Soil and Fertility »
    Advancing Deserts » »
    Losing Cropland to Other Uses »
    Conserving Topsoil »
    Saving Cropland »
     
  6. Stabilizing Water Tables » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Falling Water Tables »
    Rivers Running Dry »
    Cities Versus Farmers »
    Scarcity Crossing National Boundaries »
    Raising Water Productivity »
     
  7. Stabilizing Climate » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Rising Temperatures, Falling Yields »
    Temperature Trends and Effects »
    Raising Energy Efficiency »
    Turning to Renewable Energy Sources »
     
  8. Reversing China's Harvest Decline » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    Grainland Shrinking »
    An Aquacultural Initiative »
    Water Shortages Spreading »
    Turning Abroad for Grain »
    A New Food Strategy »
     
  9. The Brazilian Dilemma » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    World's Leading Source of Soybeans »
    Feed Supplier for the World? »
    Meat Exports Climbing »
    Domestic Demand Growing »
    Expansion: The Risks and Costs »
     
  10. Redefining Security » (pdf)
    Introduction »
    The Tightening Food Supply »
    The Politics of Food Scarcity »
    Stabilizing the Resource Base »
    A Complex Challenge »



Notes » (pdf)