... The critical question centres on the `type of intensification'. Intensification using natural, social and human capital assets, combined with the use of best available technologies and 15 Pretty, 1995;Conway, 1997;NRC, 2000;McNeely and Scherr, 2003;Clements and Shrestha, 2004;Cox et al., 2004;Gliessman, 2005, 200816 Balfour, 1943Lampkin and Padel, 1994;Altieri, 1995;Trewevas, 200117 Altieri, 1995Pretty, 1995Pretty, , 1998Conway, 1997;Hinchliffe et al., 1999;NRC, 2000;Li Wenhua, 2001;Jackson and Jackson, 2002;Tilman et al., 2002;Uphoff, 2002;McNeely and Scherr, 2003;Swift et al., 2004;Tomich et al., 2004;Gliessman, 2004Gliessman, , 2005MA, 200518 Chambers et al., 1989Uphoff, 1998;Bunch and Lopez, 1999;Olsson and Folke, 2001;Ward, 2001 19 Conway andPretty, 1991;Pretty et al., 2000;Buttel, 2003;Tegtmeier and Duffy, 2004 inputs (best genotypes and best ecological management) that minimise or eliminate harm to the environment, can be termed `sustainable intensification'. ...