feed the world

[malleefarmer]

In the next 50 years we need to grow as
much food as the world has in the entire
history of the Human race.

Interesting and not alot of new land
available long term we are in the right
game

[ColevilleH2S]

If the former Soviet territories and Africa ever get
their sh#t together, we'll be swimming in food. I
don't see that happening anytime soon though.

[hedgehog]

food production is in decline in the former soviet union due to the high price of deisel and fert.

[Rareearth]

Africa is the next southamerica

[bucket]

So why are the mega investment firms not going there to buy farmland?

My guess would be political instability.

[westsider]

two facts that make this argument obsolete 1) if margins in ag become too big governments and large corps will figure out how to make farming work not just a yard sale like pike or one earth etc 2) majority of population explosion happening right is of a poorer demographic.

If the day comes when people in Africa or India eat half as many calories in a day than us fatties here in North America we can have a discussion about how the heck we are going to feed the world

[Jay-mo]

Food production and population growth have always been very closely linked.
The MSM likes to scare us with the fear of overpopulation. However, it is arguable that population actually grows in response to abundant food supply.
Either way, they are running neck and neck right now which is good for farmers.

[cottonpicken]

I watch this once a year to keep my eye on the prize.

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

[ado089]

China has already bought a pile of infrastructure in the more stable
African countries, including farmland.
When I was in Zambia I was talking with
a custom cutter and his response to my
question of how productive the soil is
there was...the dirt is so good here you
can stick your dick in the ground and it
will grow two inches. Couldn't get
enough privacy to try it and it was near
the end of the rainy season so... One
thing I did notice is that nearly
everyone even the poorest have cell
phones, will phones eventualy comes
internet and the internet is knowledge.
It may take a while but when it comes it
will happen fast there. If I had a
couple million dollars more I would be
setting up on dry land in Zambia growing
wheat in the wet season and
chickpea/lentils through the dry. In
march the local price for milling wheat
was USD$14/bu with 100bpa yields and it
sounded like you could get whatever you
asked for pulse crops because they had
none.