World Perspectives

No. 1; Cost of Caring; Un-noble Gases

No. 1 Nothing says important better than calling something “The No. 1 document,” but China’s plan for agricultural success remains undermined by the realities literally on the ground. In an ideal world, China would produce all the food that it wants plus some, but its arable land availability per capita is only 40 percent of the global average, and that number has been falling due to development. Major cereals and oilseeds already utilize 87 percent of that land base, with the remainder going to specialty crops, grazing and other food products. Yields can be improved but not enough to keep up with expanding livestock production. Particularly since Beijing also recognizes the need to protect its soil quality and has thus c...

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