Maxine Fay Miller
Food and Water Sustainability
26 Jan 2009
According to a report on 21st January 2009 by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institution of Chemical Engineers, launched in Westminster by Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs we have a looming world food crisis, caused by climate change and economic growth in emerging nations. In turn this will lead to survival of the fittest.
Changing weather patterns caused by enhanced global warming, crops being used for fuel rather than food, and the emerging Chinese and Indian middle classes will all contribute to a breakdown in the global food supply chain.
One of the greatest technological challenges facing humanity today is meeting the increasing energy and food demands despite declining fossil fuel resources - without permanently damaging the environment.
The World Bank estimate that by 2030 our current planet cereal production must increase by 30% and meat production by 80% to meet the demands of a global population exceeding eight billion – up by more than a billion on current numbers.
Agriculture currently uses almost three quarters of the world’s water resources. According to research by the United Nations by 2050, as many as 60 countries will experience water scarcity. We need to develop and improve chemical technologies to conserve and reuse water, treat contaminated water, recycle water, desalinate and harvest water for irrigation.
Water is a precious resource and in Our Future Planet we will develop technologies to conserve and reuse water including recycling water and harvesting water. Individuals can harvest their own water by using water butts and this water can be used for gardening and even domestic uses if there is a water shortage.
Professor Peter Lillford CBE explains that the poorest nations that succumb first: “The countries that are less technologically advanced and those that rely most heavily on food imports will be the first to suffer. It will be survival of the fittest.
“In the developed world, because food is relatively cheap, we waste it. That is no longer morally or economically acceptable and we’ll also rely on the chemical sciences to implement technology to reduce this waste, alongside the need for adjustments in consumer behaviour. There is no way out of this unless we make changes,” warns Lillford.
In Our Future Planet we will limit food waste by using renewable and biological packaging and we could use and develop renewable resources such as biogas generated from domestic waste and sewage to fuel our houses.
How will we ensure that every one has enough food and water in Our Future Planet?
What technologies can we use to recycle water and desalinate water?
What population size can the world support so that everyone can have enough food and water?
What changes in lifestyles should be adopt to make the earth’s resources sustainable?
Comments
Comment 1
'Free' or 'Green' production of surplus electricity, directed at electro-desalination & water recycling/purification, as well as hydroponic food factories.
The whole universe is made out of energy, once we figure out how to harness an abundant, non-polluting source of electricity (like wind, solar, hydro, geo-thermal, mag-lev, tesla's cosmic/geo-magnetic receiver and/or electro-mantle harness, etc... we have the knowledge, we could have this if we collectively decide to fund the right scientists & engineers, who are ready and waiting to make this happen) we can use this energy to provide 100% purified water, as well as enhancing crop yield (again, tesla's work on electromagnetic influence on crops), starting with hydroponics (think about using electrically-enhanced light to help the plants photosynthesise).
There are seeds gathering dust on the shelf, fields of prime land are uncultivated, more and more people are desperate for employment, and yet, more people are starving than there has ever been before. Hmmm... I think I see a way out of this.
Buy Land, let people live on it for free (in tents until shelters are built if necessary), get EVERYONE (as many as possible) to combine resources and labour (because the banks won't fund it, and neither will the government, which means it's up to US! You and I, the people. If we don't do it, it won't get done) for infrastructure, equipment and supplies.
Establish/acquire land & buildings (dormitory, kitchen & mess hall, toilet & shower blocks, power plant, silos & refridgerated storage, engineering bay), tools (manual gardening equipment - shovels, watering-cans, etc. Maybe even converted veg-oil diesel powered farming machinery: tractors/ploughs/slashers) and supplies (bulk ordered storable food for year before first harvest, soap, etc.). The idea would be to do as much as possible with donated/salvaged/recycled resources, grow and make your own food, soap, wine, beer, etc.
It might expensive and difficult, but it is necessary. We need to grow an abundance of food. We need to make it the driving priority for the world. We need to grow so much food that we can afford to give it away for free, to everyone.
Start small. You can buy heritage seeds online for about 1 cent each. It might take a little effort, but it is way cheaper than buying food from the supermarket, not to mention being much tastier and way better for you as well.
If it's too much work for you on your own, start a community garden with your neighbours, friends and family, start a food co-op (all chip in and buy food in bulk - WAY cheaper, about half price of supermarkets: half price food only takes a little organisation to accomplish), start a food-bank.
The emphasis is on FOOD!
Grow food.
It's the only investment that reliably pays off: one seed costs 1 cent. Put it in dirt, give it water and sunshine for 3-4 months, you get food you can eat (saves on the grocery bill) as well as dozens more seeds, which can be used to repeat the process again and again. It's the ONLY game in town that ACTUALLY pays out - if it is done smart.
The planet earth needs smart-farms!
Check out http://www.freerice.com/
It takes about 20,000 grains of rice to feed one person for one day. This site lets you donate free food to starving people by improving your vocabulary. Check it out, your spare time can feed people.
It only takes a small group of organised, highly dedicated people to change the entire world.
I'm trying to find those people.
If you're reading this and you want to help, I'd love to hear from you.
Written by Adrian on 02 Feb 2009, at 19:35 Report this comment
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