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One Planet: 18/03/2010

Factual: Science & Nature

18/03/2010

BBC World Service - One Planet, 18/03/2010

Mike considers intensive farming, hears ghoulish tales on the river and reads eco fiction

The "sustainable intensification of agriculture" is a phrase that might leave you a little cold. But Britain's national academy of science - The Royal Society - recently used it in a report examining ways to boost the global agricultural output. With the world's population rapidly rising towards seven billion, food production will have to be boosted if more people aren't going to be left hungry on a daily basis.

On this week's show, Mike examines different solutions to the global food puzzle. We hear from farmers in Zambia where there's a growing movement to ditch more modern methods of farming involving tractors and artificial fertilisers, and return to more traditional ways. A movement called conservation farming, and the results have been impressive. 

We also speak to the celebrated Indian campaigner Dr Vandana Shiva who disputes the idea that intensive farming has helped the world, and instead urges the whole food industry to be overhauled - large commercial operations replaced by small scale biologically diverse plots.   

Plus Mike chats to one of the world's leading crop scientists to ask whether technology can provide some of the answers, or whether it has been part of the problem.  

Also in the show, Mike grabs his canoe and takes to the Thames to interview Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton following her extraordinary kayak trip down the entire Amazon for Sport Relief. Have a look at our audio slideshow to see some pictures of Mike and Helen on the river.

As ever, tune in or download the podcast and let us know what you think. You can email Mike and the team at oneplanet@bbc.com, or join in the debate on our Facebook page, the link's below.

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