The Biennial Residential Seminar
Held on Saturday 25/Sunday 26th September 1999
In Pollock Halls at Edinburgh University

CAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FEED THE POPULATION
OF TROPICAL COUNTRIES FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS?

This topic, in various manifestations, has been subjected to interminable debate, much writing and many a meeting. Apart from the possibility of a collision with some passing astral body or a major movement in the earth's crust, this subject is broadly accepted as the major problem facing future generations on the planet. It is not surprising, therefore that opinions range from a deep gloom and doom to glowing optimism. Calls for intensification of production are countered by insistence on a return to nature. As often as not, the conclusions drawn from the data are so dire that ignoring them seems to be the best approach.
    The Association can muster a unique body of expertise and experience relevant to these issues and the seminar will be so structured as to bring to bear the full weight of such expertise. The intention is to define a series of 'informed' conclusions and a consensus as to what can, might or cannot be achieved.  This will be particularly apt, given the pressures on the Association to adopt a more proactive stance in the affairs of Man and State. Essentially this will be an in-house gathering, comprising a limited number of key sessions, each without a formal speaker but with a chairman of standing to open the debate, (probably spelling out the main points of contention), and to guide the contributions from the floor. Each will be supported by their own rapporteur to record and make sense of the proceedings of the session. Members who have submitted short papers will be given priority to speak and such advance notice will enable the chairman to organise the discussion in a more structured way.

Four Main sessions were held:
The underlined papers can be accessed by clicking on their title
 

Session 1; Saturday 25th September 1400 to 1600

1. How reliable are the available data and the projections made from them?

Keynote paper and convener: Professor Anthony Young
Rapporteur   Mr. Mike Steele

Papers Presented

Session 2; Saturday 25th September 1630 to 1830

2. Potential food production

Keynote paper and convener: Dr Anthony Smith
Rapporteur : Mr Laurie Robertson

Papers Presented
 

  • Feeding 8000 million - Dr Anthony Smith.
  • Feeding 8000 million a presentation in Adobe acrobat - Dr Anthony J Smith
  • Small scale milk production in Zimbabwe. -  Professor John Topps
  • Are there any roles for agroforestry in feeding the world?-  Dr Robert Brook
  • Tree Crops essential components of sustainable agricultural systems - Mr Roger Smith
  • How can the production of Vertisols and Vertic Clays contibute to the demand for more food?    Dr Theo Wilcocks el al

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    Session 3;  Sunday 26th September 0830 to 1030
     

    3. Physical inputs required

    Keynote paper and convener: Jim Suttie
    Rapporteur : Mr. Keith Virgo

    4. Scope for External Assistance

    Keynote paper by Mr. Andrew Bennett (DFID)
    Rapporteur:  Dr Ian Hill

    Papers Presented
               Scope for external Assistance - Andrew Bennett
               Grasping the nettle - Mr Paul Tuley
               Rural livelihoods concept: Theory or Reality - Keith Virgo
              Have the scientific luddites taken over development - John Coulter

    Discussion of papers presented in session 4

    Session 5 - Sunday 26th September 1999
    14.00 to 15.00

    5. Conclusions, Freethinking and AOB