Abstract

SALGUEIRO, Teodósio Augusto. Humanity in danger of partial extinction and the function of scientific agriculture. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.1, pp.283-298. ISSN 0871-018X.

Among crops, those for renewable energy are important and those for feeding humans are indispensable. However, mainly due to proliferation of buildings, the utilized agriculture surface (UAS) is in a worrying regression all over the world. In Portugal, for instance, in 1956, UAS comprised 60% of the territory and the relation UAS/person was 0,68 ha, but in 2005, these numbers had diminished to 40% and 0,36 ha, respectively. Humanity’s survival requires the constant increase of crop and animal productivity. So, the measures of agricultural policy that foment extensive and biological agricultures are irrational. It is imperative the practice of sustainable agriculture, such it is defined by FAO, that is, in such a way that “ the needs of actual generations but also of future ones are satisfied.” Sustainable agriculture must be implemented by Science application, so it is called scientific agriculture too. Without it, Humanity will extinguish due to lack of feed.

Keywords : sustainable agricultural; science; humanity; productivity; utilized agricultural surface.

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