News Agriculture

Nation by nation, evidence thin that boosting crop yields conserves land

Goals to intensify agriculture may not necessarily return farmland to nature, new survey of UN data finds

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Growing more in less space is good. But it may not be good enough without some help, say researchers who reviewed 35 years of data on cropland use by nation.

A cherished idea among conservationists predicts that revving up yields not only feeds an exploding population but also encourages farmers to let some of their land go wild again.