As citizens of an increasingly globalized society our actions impact not only our own community, but people around the globe. Similarly, the issues facing people on the other side of the world affect us here at home. In this interconnected world it is our responsibility to remain informed, and engaged so that we can shape a brighter future, not just for ourselves, but for all the world.

In recognition of our responsibilities as global citizens, Global Awareness Week seeks to start a dialogue within the Santa Barbara community on issues that have a global impact, and to empower people to engage these issues on a local level.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Solutions for a Cultivated Planet

Christian Balzer
Tuesday, April 10th, 5:30 - 6:30
IV Theater 2

Global food demand is expected to double by the year 2050, when the global human population will have reached 9-10 billion people and the average person will be more wealthy and demand more food than today. Meeting this immense food demand will have dire environmental implications - unless agriculture is intensified in sustainable ways. Negative environmental effects of agricultural development include deforestation, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions from land clearing, transport, and fertilizer application, and groundwater pollution. Recent research has shown that it is possible to feed the world in 2050 while greatly reducing these factors, by following five guidelines: 1) Stop agricultural expansion in tropical rainforests, 2) close "yield gaps" on underperforming croplands through agricultural intensification, 3) use fertilizers and other "inputs" more strategically, 4) shift diets towards less meat and dairy and more plant protein, and 5) reduce food waste. 

Christian Balzer was born in Providence, RI, and grew up in Weinheim, Germany. He studied Physics, Mathematics and Biology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, then transferred to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where he graduated with a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies in 2008. He then spent one year working as a researcher at the University of Minnesota with Dr. David Tilman. During this time, he conducted research on global agricultural trends and their environmental and economic implications. This work has resulted in two papers that he has co-authored: Solutions for a Cultivated Planet, which was published in the journal Nature in October 2011, and Global food demand and the sustainable intensification of agriculture, which was published in the journal PNAS in December 2011. He is currently a third year Ph.D. student in the department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology at UCSB. When he is not doing research, Christian enjoys surfing, hiking, snowboarding, backpacking and playing the guitar.

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