Feeding 9 bln people by 2050

[begood]

I fully understand that the vast majority of people buy lottery tickets based on their expectation of winning fortunes on risking much smaller amounts.
Similarly, the advice of fortune tellers, clarivoiants and diviners and witchers is relied upon by seemingly sensible persons.
As for faith, it may well be an important calming influence for certain individuals, but it crosses the line to assume everyone must be converted. Galileo said something to the effect that humans were endowed with sense, reason and intellect and he didn't feel obliged with foregoing their use.
Apparently tolerance isn't found to a greater extent among "religious" persons. There is the possibility that tolerance is an important attribute that should be more a part of every person's life.

[begood]

"As for faith, it may well be an important calming influence for certain individuals, but it crosses the line to assume everyone must be converted".
If we are all basically organisms fighting for resources to survive how does one of us develop a standard that allows him to say to another "you have crossed a line".Who's line?What authority can you appeal to?If were all just chemical reactions brought here by accident can't I just remove you by incident.
Do you get the irony of an athiest worrying about over population?

[BTOfarmallll]

Put yer Money where yer Mouth is.......

http://www.popoffsets.com/ - Population offsets

[burnt]

It would be interesting to know how many well-fed progeny bear the genes of Thomas Robert Malthus. Undoubtedly, far more than he predicted.

[begood]

When you understand arithmetic; doubling rates; effect of rate of growth; logarithms; logic; statistics then you will know what my points are.

But there are so few humans that can comprehend those facts. So you wildly attack those ideas. Well guess what. One might as well be blunt with such people. Its futile to try to "convert" you;; but its important to point out that you are either stupid or ignorant or misinformed or naive or all those things or more. You do a disservice to the human race and should be held accountable.

[begood]

Here's "cottons" link again. The speaker is old but smart, very meek, well spoken, well seasoned and watch the series. If you have a brain and can use it you will be impressed. If not then please tell uspresents compelling arguments. He invites listeners to show where he might be in error. Please tell everyonewhere he is wrong. First you'd have to watch it;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY



and cYou'll be impresses and

[begood]

Perhaps charliep could critically review the youtube videos referred to above; and report back to agri-ville.


This isn't a matter of being to controversial to have an opinion on. Put you reputations on the line; because its the central point that all other production and economics questions are focused around.

[charliep]

The rule of 70 ( I have use 72) works. It will tell you how long it takes to
double your money on an investment. Invest at 6 % and it takes 12 years
to double your money. 24 % and it takes 3 years. A world population that
is growing at 2 % will double every 36 years.

For your point, I don't think world population is necessary growing
exponentially but more linearly. Things like more use of birth control and
aging populations are reducing birth rates in the developed world.

Regardless of how you calculate, world population is growing - just a
discussion about how fast. Improving diets/more meat, urbanization,
non food uses are also increasing crop consumption. I have an
interesting graph that relates world population growth, crop production
and adoption of new technology (increased use fertilizer, hybrid crops,
reduced tillage/better seeding technology, introduction biotech, etc. Will
be interesting the next technology that jumps crop production over the
next 40 years. I think will be around water use/ability to adapt to
variable weather/climate but that is only a guess.

[burnt]

begood proves best that the limits to arrogance have yet to be established . . .

[FarmRanger]

Some people are good at math, but not so good
with biology.
"Birth rate
Death rate
Sex ratio of offspring
Age of first reproduction
Life span"
If none of these things change, then we would be
over-run. For those that think our birth rate is too
high, in Canada we need immigration just to
maintain our population. Something to think
about.