Global crop intensification lessens greenhouse gas emissions

The global population increased from 3.08 billion in 1961 to over 6.51 billion in 2005 (111% increase), and is expected to reach almost 9 billion by 2050. This growth of the human family will result in a 70% rise in food demand. Can such food production increases be met, and if so, what will the impacts be on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change? A recently published scientific journal article (Burney et al., 2010) has provided some answers to these questions.