Introduction to Ecological Dimensions of Hunger

Abstract

Global hunger is a complex multi-faceted problem that typically has been the domain of agronomists, economists, and rural socialists. Less frequently, however, have we asked what ecology’s, and ecologists’ contribution might be to alleviating extreme and hidden hunger. Ecology has many contributions to make in finding, and developing ecologically based, sustainable solutions to this development goal. The hunger section of this book, in addition to several other chapters, provides compelling evidence of ecosystem services that are critical to sustaining agricultural ­production including pollination, pest control, and increasing the stability of agroecosystems (Chap. 3). Milder et al. (Chap. 5) demonstrate how taking a landscape scale approach permits the co-existence of production, conservation, and livelihood improvement goals in human dominated landscapes, and gives detailed information on relevant landscape measures appropriate to evaluating the conservation, production, and livelihood status of such landscapes. Remans et al. (Chap. 4) demonstrate that human nutrition is a critical ecosystem function with direct ties to farm-scale agrobiodiversity. All three chapters demonstrate, and define how integrated approaches, including a focus on ecosystem functions in agricultural landscapes, can reduce both acute and hidden hunger.