Paul Roberts: The End of Food

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Paul Roberts, veteran print journalist, and author of The End of Food, and The End of Oil, speaks at the first ever, Organicology conference, in Portland, Oregon. The story he tells here is a cautionary tale. Modern science has created the industrial agriculture revolution, producing enormous benefits for society. Though over time, many of these very same benefits: lower costs of production, greater production yields, and greater efficiency through increased economies of scale, have led to serious systemic problems that threaten the entire agricultural system, perhaps even our planet.

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[o0lBobl0o]

If we change things we won't be able to produce the volume of food we have come to depend on. If we don't change things the system will fail. either way we starve

[cookingupastory]

Many schools of thought here, many involve change.

Some studies are saying organics can produce more nutritious food than is being grown today. Some say we (especially for many of us in the US used to large portions) if we cut back the amount we ate, less would have to be produced. Also, much food is thrown away, unused, for various reasons. (cont.)

[cookingupastory]

(cont.)

These just touch the tip of the food system iceberg. It's a very complex issue, but one that can be dealt with in a positive way. As Mr. Roberts says (in part 2) there are no quick solutions, we're in an experimental stage right now, and it's time to 'expand the discussion'. I hope to help him do that right here.

[crewlla]

balance of life. if you change some thing it will be a problem to some thing else.

he goes a little off topic alot. where did he get the bells from..? I want some!!!!!!! :)

[cookingupastory]

A couple from Hawaii presented them to him when he was about to start speaking at the Organicology event in Portland. I thought they were beautiful too!

[dianelap67]

I WANT TO DESTROY HUMMANS

[danielkeeton]

Whats up with those gay beads.

[quintacabecadomato]

like it , caryn

[hitssquad]

@walter0bz google. com/search?q=juliansimon+"prod­uce+more+than+they+consume"

[hitssquad]

@walter0bz "I'm all for that, (not blotting out the sun of course)"

Why not blot out the sun?

.

"but I think anyone counting on Type2 carrying capacity"

No. I mentioned it as a threat to your utopia, not as a promise. Your guarantee that this won't threaten your utopia is that it *might* not?

.

"but if you had as many kids as you can afford with a lottery win, then they go back to a steady income"

Then you might end up wealthier per-capita, since people tend to produce more than they consume.

[walter0bz]

@hitssquad

>>"Yes, it's welfare, and like all forms of welfare, it traps its recipients."

.. and a lottery win doesn't ever trap or destabilize people ?

[walter0bz]

@hitssquad

>> "Does the solar-welfare go away, if people burn fuel for awhile instead?"

- No, but if you had as many kids as you can afford with a lottery win, then they go back to a steady income (fixed same amount in total, not extra added per kid), the extra ones starve :)

Ok so there's still the massive output that misses the earth, but I think anyone counting on Type2 carrying capacity should wait till they can breed IN orbit.. put resources saved on 2nd+ child into the space programme

[walter0bz]

@hitssquad

>>"Further, society might expand to fill the innermost solar-system with satellites - "

- I'm all for that, (not blotting out the sun of course) but you probably know my view here.. overpopulation & resource depletion on earth are more likely to crash civilization before we achieve such a leap.