The latest news over the weekend was that the expansion of rice paddies and palm oil groves is damaging the environment in Asia and the Pacific Rim. Apparently the mangrove swamps are under threat. These protect the coastal areas from erosion and also prevent damage to the reefs which in turn protect the shores of islands and coastal areas around estuaries.

I need to do more research to discover how this will affect food security in the future, as my knowledge of geology is not good. I imagine there are fish and other creatures that live off whatever algae and plants exist in these tidal areas. Natural nature reserves for birds certainly but will it affect agriculture or be affected by agriculture?

Thoughts and suggestion will be most welcome.

Adrian Binsted, Editor, Food Trade Review