This means the remaining land has to produce more food to support even more people. Available land per capita is already very low in Asia with 182 people per km 2 compared to the world average of 44 per km 2 . Soil degradation affects a third of the world s land and diminishes our ability to produce food for the growing population. It is caused by deforestation, poor land and water management, over-use of fertilisers and pesticides, poor waste disposal, clearance of poor land for growing food, and air pollution. Land degradation leads in a helter-skelter downward spiral to worse poverty amongst the world s poorest peoples.
Food security is all about having enough food.
Food availability in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia is a huge problem now. The countries in these regions generally have the fastest growing populations. They also have the largest number of poor people, the worst land degradation, most rapid urbanisation and biggest debts so they cannot afford to import food.