Threats to Arable Land of the World

Abstract

Arable lands are the major source of food production worldwide. Increasing crop cultivation in the response to population pressure and the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals are the main reasons for the conversion of arable lands into problematic soils. Increasing food demand requires to increase the per acre yield of agricultural crops resulting in over exploitation of soil resources. This is a major contributor to soil degradation which is the major threat to the food security of the world. Climate change and poor-quality irrigation are the other problems are also affecting crop productivity and the conversion of arable lands into problematic lands. Deforestation and urbanization are the main reasons behind the conversion of agricultural land into infrastructure. Adopting precision agriculture, vertical farming and good agricultural practices are the only ways to conserve arable lands. This chapter provides a keen overview of world arable land issues with the focus on threats to arable land and possible solutions to overcome this issue.