Bozeman Magazine

Dr. Paul West will give a talk titled "Sustainably Feeding a Growing Population on a Warming Planet" on Wednesday, Sep. 26 at the Museum of the Rockies as part of the Institute on Ecosystems' Distinguished Visiting Lecturer Series. How we grow food and what we eat have profound impacts on health, water, biodiversity, and climate. Challenges from increasing population, stagnating yields, changing diets, and degrading the environment are all exacerbated by a warmer, more variable climate. Sustainably feeding a growing population on a warming planet requires transforming the global food system. Fortunately, there are key leverage points for increasing food security and reducing agriculture’s impact. Targeting policies and management practices will provide a focus for growing more food, improving the environment, and adapting to a changing climate. Dr. West is the co-director and lead scientist of the Global Landscapes Initiative at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. His research develops solutions for increasing global food security while decreasing the negative effects of agriculture on water, climate, and biodiversity. His research is published in leading journals, including Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and National Geographic. Paul leads the team’s efforts to get its science out of the ivory tower and into the hands of people affecting change. The event begins at 7 pm, with light refreshments served beforehand. It is free and open to the public to attend. Additional information about Dr. West can be found at http://gli.environment.umn.edu/about/team/paul-west/.