Surely the obvious but unstated conclusion of your report on food production is that the most effective means of increasing yields is to replace large farms with small ones (18 May, p 31)?
You cite Miguel Altieri's work showing the advantages of mixed cropping, which being easier on smaller units ensures that "small farms all over the world tend to produce better yields than larger ones". The box on urban farming (p 41) noted that: "The highest productivity was on the smallest plots, even though most farmers didn't use yield-boosting chemicals."
There is plenty of other evidence showing that farm size is the key determinant of output per hectare. Shouldn't the priority of all those who wish to feed the world be to call for a redistribution of tenure, otherwise known as land reform?
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