This course addresses population growth and the challenges it poses—in particular, the challenge of providing everyone with an adequate diet while simultaneously conserving the natural resources on which agriculture and other economic activities depend.  Since human numbers are increasing more rapidly in poor countries than anywhere else,special attention is paid to population growth and the prospects for environmentally sound agricultural development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.  The problems arising as a transition is made from communism to a market economy are examined as well since agricultural development has lagged, environmental deterioration has been pronounced, or both in many of the nations experiencing this transition.

Fulfills GEC-R AND GE Contemporary World requirement.  Cross-listed with Agricultural Economics.