PhD in Innovation and Land use Management (University of Algarve) - Call for Applications

The Faculty of Economics of the University of Algarve and the Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (www.cieo.ualg.pt) are starting the 2nd Edition of the PhD in Innovation and Land Use Management.
The PhD program main goal is to form researchers able to promote scientific research in the areas of Innovation and Land Use Management based on multidisciplinary approaches related to spatial and organizational dynamics.
Deadline for this call for applications: 13 July 2012.
More information available at: http://www.fe.ualg.pt/sitefeualg2/main.php?id_geral=8

African agriculture: Dirt poor

Sub-Sarahan Africa is one of the poorest regions on Earth, in both living standards and soil fertility. The depleted soil has caused average yields of grain crops to stagnate at around 1 tonne per hectare since the 1960s. By contrast, yields now reach 2.5 t ha⁻¹ in south Asia and 4.5 t ha⁻¹ in east Asia, where chemical fertilizers have been widely adopted since the green revolution (see 'Uneven landscape'). Fertilizer use across Africa has remained at around 9 kg ha⁻¹ of cultivated land over the past 40 years, whereas Asia uses 96 kg ha⁻¹ of inorganic fertilizer.

The key to tackling hunger in Africa is enriching its soil. The big debate is about how to do it.

Read more.......

Source: Nature 483, 525–527 (29 March 2012) doi:10.1038/483525a

by Natasha Gilbert

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