This chapter describes four among the world’s major production zones (MPZ). Chosen mainly because of their contribution to world exports, the four zones are located in South and South-East Asia, North America, South America, and Central Europe-West Russia. In addition to the environmental indicators used in chapter 1, four additional indicators have been used to analyze cropping activities and stress in the four MPZs:uncultivated arable land (UAL), cropping intensity, potential biomass ratio(PBR), and the Vegetation Health Index (VHI), a drought indicator. Results foreach MPZ are presented in figures 2.1-2.5, along with additional data in Annex C. Section 6.3 provides technical briefs about the indices.