To feed a growing population, crop production must increase—ideally through increases in crop yields. However, though crop yields are increasing globally, farmland area is also expanding through deforestation, which increases greenhouse gas emissions, destroys wildlife habitat, and reduces crucial ecosystem services. Since 2000, a global area over twice the size of Kenya has been cleared of native vegetation like forests to make space for more cropland.1 The greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation then contribute to global climate change, which causes further negative impacts on food production. Agriculture has a huge impact as the sector is the biggest driver of deforestation globally. In contrast to farmland expansion, increasing crop yields can boost food production without causing additional deforestation. Downloadable PDF
