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Agriculture isn’t the world’s ‘worst human mistake’, says columnist

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 25, 2009 at 9:08 am

29-coachella-valley-agriculture-smaller.jpgFrom The Packer, this column by Larry Waterfield:

“The world’s population is getting close to 7 billion. It will continue to rise to 9 billion over the next 40 years and then is projected to level off. That’s a lot of mouths to feed.

Even today food insecurity, famine and lack of good nutrition affect more than 1 billion people.

In the developed world there is enough food and obesity is a growing problem, along with diabetes and other diet-related conditions.

These countries have an older population, and older people tend to consume more fresh produce. In the U.S. the median age is 37. In parts of the developing world it is as low as 15. Japan is the oldest, at 44. Many European nations are in the 40s. Even the younger, poorer countries want a better diet.

The world population has more than doubled since 1960, when there were 3 billion people. Every day the world adds 200,000 people, equal to the population of Richmond, Va.

How do we feed the growing population? With organics? With genetically modified crops? With new technology, a new green revolution that produces more on less land and with “smartputs”— smart inputs of energy, fertilizers, targeted irrigation. … “

Read more of Larry Waterfield’s column by clicking here.

December 25, 2009 · Filed Under Agriculture

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