JOINING UP: The Social and Political Dimensions

Stephen G. Hughes, Xiaobai Shen, Paul Richards, John A. Bryant

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract / Description of output

Although this book project focuses on crop development to meet the
challenges posed by climate and climate change we need to recognise that climate
is but one of several interlinked factors, which bear on crop productivity and food
security. Population increase, demographic changes, resource depletion and loss of
agricultural land all combine with climate change to produce a “perfect storm”.
We note that just as exploitation of resources is not evenly spread over the globe,
neither is vulnerability to climate change. It is in general the most resource-poor
countries that are most at risk and are least able to ameliorate the effects. The
situation is further complicated by the considerable agro-sociological differences in
respect of seed systems and crop husbandry between the industrial-scale farming
systems of the global north and the small and diverse systems, which support
livelihoods in the global south. Both represent agro-sociological capital but in
very different ways and any breeding of crops in response to climate change
needs to take this into account.
The range of issues considered extends to environmental justice, power and
economic imbalances, differing economic statuses, different demographic
structures as well as regulatory provisions and institutional policy.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGenomics and Breeding for Climate-Resilient Crops
Subtitle of host publicationVol. 1 Concepts and Strategies
EditorsC. Kole
Place of PublicationVerlag Berlin Heidelberg
PublisherSpringer
Pages461-501
Volume1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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