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Environmental Change and Food Security in China

  • Book
  • © 2010

Overview

Authors:
  1. Jenifer Huang McBeath

    1. Fairbanks, USA

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    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Jerry McBeath

    1. Fairbanks, USA

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Explores indirect and direct relationships between environmental degradation and food security
  • Comprehensive treatment of major factors influencing China’s food production, consumption and control systems
  • Analyses of actors (national and sub-national officials, scientists, non-governmental organizations, media) involved in food policy formation and implementation
  • Examination of recent controversies—GMOs and human health, "tainted" food product
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Advances in Global Change Research (AGLO, volume 35)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 1-18

  3. Communist Rule and the Food Security Situation

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 19-43

  4. Immediate Environmental Stressors on Food Security

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 45-82

  5. Near-Term Environmental Stressors: Climate Change

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 83-116

  6. Plant Diseases, Pests and Food Security

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 117-156

  7. Invasive Species and Food Security

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 157-176

  8. Biotechnological Responses to Food Security Needs

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 177-203

  9. The Legal and Institutional Framework to Address Food Security Needs

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 205-241

  10. Issues in Implementing Food Security in China

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 243-270

  11. Summary and Conclusions

    • Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath
    Pages 271-286

  12. Back Matter

    Pages 287-303
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Keywords

About this book

Abstract This chapter defines food security as the condition reached when a nation’s population has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet its dietary needs and food preferences. It stresses China’s importance to global food security because of its population size. The chapter introduces the contents of the volume and then treats briefly food security in ancient and dynastic (211 bc–1912) China. It examines environmental stressors, such as population growth, natural disasters, and insect pests as well as imperial responses (for example, irrigation, flood control, storage and transportation systems). The chapter also briefly int- duces the Republican era (1912–1949) and compares environmental stressors and government responses then to those of the imperial period. Keywords Food system • Food security • Food production regions • Environmental stressors (Population growth • Natural disasters • Insect pests and Plant diseases • Deforestation • Climate change) • Irrigation systems • Flood control • Grand Canal 1. 1 The Problem of Food Security and Environmental Change Food is the material basis to human survival, and in each nation-state, providing a system for the development, production, and distribution of food and its security is a primary national objective. Many forces have influenced the food security of peoples since ancient times, with particular challenges from natural disasters (floods, famines, drought, and pestilence) and growing populations globally.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Fairbanks, USA

    Jenifer Huang McBeath, Jerry McBeath

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