Table of Contents

Lester R. Brown

Outgrowing the Earth:
The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables
and Rising Temperatures

You can view the attached Adobe PDF files with the Adobe Acrobat viewer, available for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

Foreword

Acknowledgements

1. Pushing Beyond the Earth's Limits
Introduction
Losing Agricultural Momentum
Growth: The Environmental Fallout
Two New Challenges
The Japan Syndrome
The China Factor
The Challenge Ahead
DATA

2. Stopping at Seven Billion
Introduction
A New Demographic Era
Population, Land, and Conflict
The Demographic Transition
The Demographic Bonus
Two Success Stories
Eradicating Poverty, Stabilizing Population
DATA

3. Moving Up the Food Chain Efficiently
Introduction
Up the Food Chain
Shifting Protein Sources
Oceans and Rangelands
The Soybean Factor
New Protein Models
DATA

4. Raising the Earth's Productivity
Introduction
Trends and Contrasts
Fertilizer and Irrigation
The Shrinking Backlog of Technology
Future Options
DATA

5. Protecting Cropland
Introduction
Losing Soil and Fertility
Advancing Deserts
Losing Cropland to Other Uses
Conserving Topsoil
Saving Cropland
DATA

6. Stabilizing Water Tables
Introduction
Falling Water Tables
Rivers Running Dry
Cities Versus Farmers
Scarcity Crossing National Boundaries
Raising Water Productivity
DATA

7. Stabilizing Climate
Introduction
Rising Temperatures, Falling Yields
Temperature Trends and Effects
Raising Energy Efficiency
Turning to Renewable Energy Sources
DATA

8. Reversing China's Harvest Decline
Introduction
Grainland Shrinking
An Aquacultural Initiative
Water Shortages Spreading
Turning Abroad for Grain
A New Food Strategy
DATA

9. The Brazilian Dilemma
Introduction
World's Leading Source of Soybeans
Feed Supplier for the World?
Meat Exports Climbing
Domestic Demand Growing
Expansion: The Risks and Costs
DATA

10. Redefining Security
Introduction
The Tightening Food Supply
The Politics of Food Scarcity
Stabilizing the Resource Base
A Complex Challenge


Notes