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33

The natural environment, with all its ecosys-

tem services, comprises the entire basis for

life on the planet. Its value is therefore im-

possible to quantify or even model. The state

of environment has – at any given stage – ef-

fects on food production through its role in

water, nutrients, soils, climate and weather as

well as on insects that are important for polli-

nation and regulating infestations. The state

of ecosystems also influences the abundance

of pathogens, weeds and pests, all factors

with a direct bearing on the quality of avail-

able cropland, yields and harvests.

Environmental degradation due to unsustainable human practices and activities now

seriously endangers the entire production platform of the planet.

Land degradation and conversion of cropland for non-food production including bio-

fuels, cotton and others are major threats that could reduce the available cropland by

8–20% by 2050. Species infestations of pathogens, weeds and insects, combined with

water scarcity from overuse and the melting of the Himalayas glaciers, soil erosion and

depletion as well as climate change may reduce current yields by at least an additional 5–

25% by 2050, in the absence of policy intervention. These factors entail only a portion of

the environment covering direct effects. The indirect effects, including socio-economic

responses, may be considerably larger.

IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL

DEGRADATION ON YIELD AND

AREA