A qualitative weighting of the plausible global economic effects of future soil degradation suggests that the greatest problems for food security in the developing countries in 2020 will be found in the densely populated marginal lands. These areas also have the highest probability of significant degradation without policy action, because combating degradation will re quire mobilizing long-term investment and new technology development.
...Degradation in marginal lands that are lightly populated is unlikely to impose major global economic costs (as distinct from the likely and significant global environmental costs), though many of the poorest of the poor may farm in these regions.
