The role of sustainable intensification in achieving global food security is being debated by many commentators and organisations. However this continuing dialogue is not always well informed on the economic processes that support and help define the two fundamental notions of sustainable intensification on the one hand and food security on the other.

In particular the debate does not always recognise that economic growth and globalisation, the defining characteristics of 21st century economic activity, have fundamental implications for how we analyse this problem.

This...