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This reminds me of the return of wheat stem rust (UG99) which has been on my mind lately. We bred disease resistant wheat varieties back in the 60s, which resulted in much more reliable yields, which together with pesticides and fertilisers has allowed grain supplies to increase to the point where we can feed 6 billion people.
However, a new form of wheat rust has evolved which can overcome the most common genes for resistance in modern wheat varieties, and is likely to make it to India in the next couple of years. Wheat yields could be severely reduced. Fertiliser is getting more expensive due to demand and higher oil & gas prices, shipping costs and production costs for pesticides are rising as oil prices rises. Can the "green-revolution" get a second wind post-peak?
We are due to hit 7 billion in 2012, and 8 billion in 2025. Most of the extra people will be a band from Nigeria to Bangladesh.
It seems to me that at some point the population growth omnibus is going to run into the brick wall of peak food. And the more people on the bus when that happens, the more horrific the resulting mess is going to be.
In that band they are breeding madly without any thought as to where their future food is going to come from. I hope they don't intend to export their extra billions to us.
Racist much?
There is no reason why we should suffer for their failure to keep their reproduction to sensable levels. Out food resources wouls break under the strain.
They're just doing what they can...
They know it takes many dozens of them to match the consumption of any ONE of us. What is the reason that they should suffer for our failure to keep our consumption to sensible levels?
Not to forget that you're making a blanket statement about the reproduction choices of the population between Nigeria and Bangladesh.
Damn, you almost sound American with such rubbish!
But it's OK for developed countries to use virtually all of the energy resources (US: <5% of population, but uses >20% of all the energy) and to waste enough food to feed millions?
Jesus, I hope you are banned soon.
Jeers
Well I doubt Weatherman is Jesus, but I agree with his thoughts.
Humans love to tie arguments together, especially if it avoids dealing with them properly. The developed world uses too much. Thats a problem. The undeveloped world breeds too much. Thats a problem.
You cannot excuse one because of the other.
Both are caused by lack of government.
Which is the unstabilised, exponential problem?
Yes because every day I hear a government spokesman telling people to stop consuming to benefit the economy and to stop breeding to save national resources..... Oh wait no I don't!
Anyone who blames the current food crisis on the poor is __________. (< fill in your own adjective.)
This isn't even worth discussing. There is, at present, the ability to feed the world. There is, at present, not enough willingness to do so. While total numbers will be a problem, they are not the problem now. This is obvious and it is inarguable.
I have no patience for those who blame victims.
Color me disgusted.
Cheers
How about plain old classism? Rich VS poor.
There only two classes of people those that labour for their returns and those that steal from the first class.
You're probably right, Eric.
The two are tough to disentangle, much of the time.. but it's rarely useful to sling that word around, regardless.
Weatherman, to be clear, I don't know you, and I would just say that your >Statement< was racist or classist, not necessarily you.
Apologies, Bob
Studies have shown the birth rates in NW Africa are amongst the highest in the world. No mention was made of race. It may be lack of ethics, poor planning, not seeing the results of one's actions, lack of good education, different moral values, etc.
And the American contributers should realise that we are on the doorstep of NW Africa.
At that point, you might say Which studies.
Beyond that, these Nations have been subjected (literally) to colonization by Nations that are adept at painting their own moral superiority, probably with a thick layer of material frosting to emphasize their provenance and approval by God, the material being supplied by these perpetually impoverished subjects.. 'Different Moral Values', indeed.