Assessing Global Land Use: Balancing Consumption with Sustainable Supply

Global cropland is expanding with changing trends in both the production and consumption of land-based products increasing pressure on land resources across the globe. This report discusses the need and options to balance consumption with sustainable production. It focuses on land-based products (food, fuels and fibre) and describes methods which enable countries to determine whether their consumption levels exceed sustainable supply capacities. Strategies and measures are outlined which will allow adjusting the policy framework to balance consumption with these capacities. The report distinguishes between gross and net expansion of cropland. Net expansion is a result of rising demand for food and non-food biomass which cannot be compensated by higher yields.