Significant segments of the populations in the poorest countries cannot afford to purchase additional food. Thus the vast majority of new staple food supplies will need to come from domestic production in developing countries facing high population growth rates and increased threats to agricultural ecosystems. The analysis draws particular attention to the need for significant improvements in the quantity and quality of environmental information related to agriculture. There is an urgent need for greater emphasis on monitoring land cover, biodiversity, soil degradation, water quality, and other indicators in order to better understand changes in agroecosytems and their relationship to agricultural production. The report concludes that policymakers will find it increasingly difficult to exempt agriculture from contributing more environmental goods and services.
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