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
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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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Objective Indicators – Author CredibilityObjective Indicators – Author Credibility
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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Objective Indicators – Author CredibilityObjective Indicators – Author Credibility
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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Objective Indicators – Author CredibilityObjective Indicators – Author Credibility
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
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5
7
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1
4
2
0
1
0 0 0
1
7
0
1
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2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 n/a
Date
Objective Indicators – Article CredibilityObjective Indicators – Article Credibility
Analysis of references by date
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Objective Indicators – Article CredibilityObjective Indicators – Article Credibility
Analysis of references by type
22
14
8
2
8
0
5
10
15
20
25
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tity
Journal Article Book Report, Paper, Presentation
Press Release, News Article
Web Portal
Type
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Objective Indicators – Article CredibilityObjective Indicators – Article Credibility
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.”