The Agri-Culture Wars (The Science of Land Management in an Era of Misinformation)

As the global human population continues to grow, the competing demands we place on our planet are increasingly difficult to balance. Nowhere is this more evident than in our need to produce ever more food and energy without threatening the climate and the survival of other species. While decision making about land use was historically the concern of farmers and landowners, more recently land use has become a topic of heated public debate and in-depth discussions with regards to carbon neutrality, eating less meat and creating and using sustainable green energy, alongside ongoing agricultural intensification. The choices we make about what we eat and how we use land to produce it are thus more important than ever and must be balanced against their environmental impacts to ensure the future sustainability of our planet. In addressing these issues this book: Reviews the scientific evidence for the environmental impact of different human land management activities and how we can collectively address climate change and biodiversity loss. Examines the credibility of controversial claims made about land use and nutritional choices in the context of the online culture wars focused on the environment. Provides guidance to shape the future perspective of policy makers. Written for those studying, researching or interested in agriculture, conservation, ecology, forestry and land use, this book explores the various strands of evidence that contribute to the debate around food choice and sustainable land use and discusses the impact of a growing population on the future of human land management.