PARENT SESSION
Thursday, August 10, 1:30-5:00 pm
Symposium 19 - Integrated approaches for agroecosystem management in the 21st century
Ballroom B, Ballroom Level, Cook Convention Center
Organized by: PJ Bohlen (pbohlen@archbold-station.org), L Drinkwater, and R Lowrance
Meeting the unprecedented challenges for sustainable management of agroecosystems in the 21st century will require increased collaboration among scientists from different fields and better integration of the ecological, agricultural, and social sciences; this symposium will address new concepts and approaches for integrated management of agroecosystems in the coming century.
Energy, human population growth, and the role of agriculture.
Pimentel, David*,1, 1 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
ABSTRACT- Humans use energy from many sources to grow food, provide shelter, and maintain health. The energy source, be it the sun, animal power, or fossil fuels, influences human activities and agriculture. Currently, ample fossil energy has enabled humans to provide food and services for an ever-increasing global human population. However, the present world population of 6.5 billion is projected to double in about 50 years. The globe faces a major challenge to feed the growing world population with 3.7 billion humans already reported by the World Health Organization to be malnourished.
Key words: energy, population growth, agriculture