Improved global cropland data as an essential ingredient for food security

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2015
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Food and Nutrition
Authors:
Herrero, M., Thornton, P., Liangzhi You, Ericksen, P., Obersteiner, M., Fritz, S., Kraxner, F., Becker-Reshel, I., Erb, K., Huajun Tang., Justice, C., McCallum, I., Peng Gong, Ramankutty, N., See, L., van der Velde, M.

Abstract

Lack of accurate maps on the extent of global cropland, and particularly the spatial distribution of major crop types, hampers policy and strategic investment and could potentially impede efforts to improve food security in an environment characterized by continued market volatility and a changing climate. Here we discuss the pressing need for the provision of spatially explicit cropland datasets at a global scale and review the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches used to develop such data.

Citation

See, L.; Fritz, S.; Liangzhi You; Ramankutty, N.; Herrero, M.; Justice, C.; Becker-Reshel, I.; Thornton, P.; Erb, K.; Peng Gong; Huajun Tang.; van der Velde, M.; Ericksen, P.; McCallum, I.; Kraxner, F.; Obersteiner, M. Improved global cropland data as an essential ingredient for food security. Global Food Security (2015) 4: 37-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2014.10.004]

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Published 1 January 2015
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