Global demand for organic or subsistence farming will destroy nature and nutrition
Paul Driessen
The World Economic Forum said that the world faces a new crisis, “one-third of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from food production.” The world's population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, so we “urgent” need to overhaul the global food system. “Radical” and “comprehensive” transformation – from “reinventing” agriculture to “reimagining” the way food is produced, processed, distributed, consumed and disposed of.
To reinforce the message, Stop Ecocide Now founder Jojo Mehta expanded on Greta Thunberg's 2020 incendiary rant that “our house is on fire” , and you are adding fuel to the fire. Ms. Mehta told elites at the 2024 World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that agriculture was a “grave crime” that amounted to “genocide.”
Their mastery of agriculture is reflected in Michael Bloomberg’s suggestion that anyone can become a farmer: “You dig a hole, put the seed in it, put dirt on it, add water, and corn grows. “
Modern agriculture and its so-called dangerous greenhouse gas emissions are a bit complicated.
Modern mechanized agriculture uses petroleum derivatives to fuel equipment and as feedstock for herbicides and pesticides, natural gas to dry grains and make fertilizers, and livestock to provide protein.
Tractors, trucks, farmers and livestock emit CO2, adding 0.04% to CO2 emissions2 in the Earth's atmosphere (equivalent to $40 out of $100,000). Beef emissions add methane to existing 0.0002% CH4 in the atmosphere (20 cents on $100,000). Nitrogen fertilizers have caused a “sharp” rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2) over the past 200 years2O), bringing it to a still tiny 0.00003% (or 3 cents on $100,000).
These emissions are said to be causing “catastrophic” climate change and extreme weather, endangering all life on Earth. So what caused the coming and going of five ice ages (including the Pleistocene and its mile-high glaciers, which ended 12,000 years ago), the Roman and Medieval Warm Periods, and the Little Ice Age (1350-1850)?
certainly, Nature Power cannot drive climate hysteria and the World Economic Forum-Gore-Biden anti-fossil fuel agenda. As a result, they are ignored by fear-mongering political, activist, media and academic elites.
In the real world, the wonderful reality is that over the centuries unbearably Although progress has been slow, the progress in agriculture over the past 75 years has been astonishing. Dr. Norman Borlaug's Green Revolution used plant breeding techniques to double the yields of important food crops, saving hundreds of millions of lives.
Since 1950, American farmers have increased their corn yields per acre by an incredible 500%, and other crops have increased their yields by smaller but still astonishing amounts while using less land, water, and fuel… per ton Produce also uses fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Their exports further help reduce global hunger and malnutrition.
Meanwhile, farmers in Brazil, India and many other countries are also achieving record harvests despite the impacts of man-made climate change.
A number of miraculous technologies are indispensable. hybrid seeds Combining valuable characteristics of different related plants. biotechnology seeds Protect crops from voracious insects and destructive viruses while reducing water and pesticide needs. Virus-resistant biotech varieties have even replaced endangered papayas in Hawaii, cassava and bananas in Africa, and other crops.
Nitrogen (ammonia) fertilizerSynthesized from natural gas and nitrogen from the atmosphere, phosphorus and potassium are added to pressurized soil. Increase atmospheric carbon dioxide Stimulates plant growth and further reduces water requirements.
lasting herbicide Controls weeds that would otherwise steal water and nutrients from crops and enables farmers to take advantage of no-till farming, avoiding soil damage, reducing erosion, maintaining soil moisture and protecting important soil organisms.
Technology developed in Israel makes it possible to grow an amazing array of crops in the Negev and Arava deserts, which receive a fraction of the annual rainfall that Arizona receives. desalination plant Converting seawater into 80% of Israel’s drinking water significantly reduces pressure on the Sea of Galilee, man-made reservoirs and groundwater supplies.
The Israelites at that time Recycle 90% of water used in homes, businesses, schools and hospitals is used in agriculture, of which drip irrigation Delivers the precise amount of water exactly where it is needed by crops and other plants, minimizing evaporation.
huge high-tech tractor GPS systems, sensors and other devices are used to guide precise routes through the fields, while soil composition is constantly measured and the correct types and amounts of fertilizers and herbicides, as well as seeds, are injected to ensure optimal harvests.
Not all of these technologies are available globally. However, farmers can obtain information about technology and modern practices through: Online libraries and programs on mobile.
Instead, this progress is under attack—under ill-advised or ill-advised attacks. Sick–on purposebut well-funded organizations hope to turn the green revolution into green tyranny, ecological imperialism and global malnutrition.
Their hatred of GM crops is intense and well-documented. But many people also despise hybrid seeds. They want to ban the use of modern herbicides and pesticides in favor of “natural” alternatives – which are often toxic to bees, fish, other animals and humans and have not been tested for long-term harm to humans.
These agricultural anarchists also require “natural” fertilizers, which often provide a fraction of the nutrients provided by modern synthetic fertilizers. At the very least, they want global organic farming, which means crop yields per acre are much lower than conventional farming, and millions of additional acres of wildlife habitat and landscapes would need to be farmed to get the same amount of food.
They say people in Africa, Asia and Latin America should practice make ends meet They prefer to call it “traditional” agriculture, agroecology, “food sovereignty” or “choice”, based on the production of “culturally appropriate” food through “ecologically sound and sustainable methods” is “indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices.”
Simply put, agroecology is strongly opposed to biotechnology, monoculture farming, non-organic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, and even mechanized equipment and hybrid seeds.
You can imagine how agroecologists would react if African farmers wanted to plant crops to assert their food sovereignty, self-determination and choice. Biotechnology Bt Corn, get higher yields, use less pesticides, enjoy a better standard of living and send your children to school. Agrarian anarchists vilify them as despicable supporters of violence against women, land grabbing, mass disenfranchisement of indigenous peoples, genocide and other “crimes against humanity”.
They also advocate “alternative proteins.” They said Africa would be the “perfect laboratory” to test new foods such as “biscuits, waffles, patties and sausages” made from raw ingredients lake fly. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Popular Science magazine, and many others have extolled the virtues of “entomophagy”—a clever progressive term that refers to eating bugs, not burgers.
They even provide recipes and techniques for processing “edible insects” into delicious, nutritious products that can improve diets and livelihoods, create thriving local businesses, and even promote the inclusion of women. In fact, they say, bugs have twice as much protein per pound as beef; Grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, beetles, ants, and cicadas make delicious snacks, desserts, guacamole, and even entire meals; Mealworms Have an “earthy flavor similar to mushrooms,” which makes them a great addition to brownies. Sauteing mealworms with a little salt can also make “protein-rich potato chips.” tasty!
who are these people – These agricultural and nutritional anarchists and revolutionaries? stay tuned.
Paul Driessen is a senior policy advisor at the Commission for a Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and the author of books and articles on energy, climate change, environmental policy, and human rights.
related
Learn more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to have the latest posts delivered to your email.
