Will we still be able to afford to eat in Singapore in 2050?

The principle problem of feeding the world in 2050, when the global population is expected to peak to 9.2 billion people, is to increase food production without extending the area of land set aside for agriculture.

I am one of those farmers who do not believe this can be done. In theory it seems simple enough. As all that seems to be required is by bridging the “yield gap” between what a plot of land should be able to produce, with the best techniques and practices, and the actual amount of food produced.

In reality higher yields are only possible with scientific farming techniques – this regrettably is still a science and will remain so for two thirds of farmers throughout the world. Even if that problem is tackled. The problem will be exacerbated by the need to increase yields sustainably without damaging the environment. I do not see how this is possible, when the only way to boost yield is by using the same methods to destroy the land -chemicals, such as fertilisers and pesticides are responsible for many of the planets intractable problems – soil degradation, ground water pollution and soil erosion just to name a few. 

Without radical changes in the way we farm along with how we regularly consume food – we will be in trouble just around 2050. 

Darkness 2012

“The age of cheap food has really come to an end. We are just around the middle of the tipping point now. Most people don’t feel it. As it is really like two minutes after the Titanic hit the iceberg – Those who know how to decipher food labels may already know that food manufacturers are already cutting back on the expensive stuff and substituting it for second best. 

But that process of trying to make a little go a very long way is not going to be nearly enough to solve the intractable problem of food scarcity some where down the future. What is may be required is something very radical and unheard of – a paradigm shift not only in  the way we typically we grow and consume food. But also how we manage the risk associated with drought, climate change and disease.

The only country that I know that can do this is Arcadan Seven – its located in the Orian Nebula System 300 billion light years from Primus nearest Star. In the Western Hemisphere of Orian. There is a race of farmers who feed everyone with virtual produce grown on virtual fields and harvested by virtual robots.

Send a third Stage Guild Navigator to Orian to find out more from the gamers in Arcadan Seven, find out how they increase yield without increasing landmass – how in hell do they do it?

Now you have to culturally prepare the Navigator before he folds space and touch base with this folk otherwise he is going to freak out when he sees them. From what we know, most of the gamers in Orian are farmers – but they aren’t ordinary farmers in real life. As this people are really into experimental agriculture, stuff like growing algea to power cars and planes. Trying to make roofing tiles from seaweed. This is what they do in real life. Thats experimental farming. Most of them are so off beat mainstream that most farmers in the real world wouldnt even give them the time of the day.

Except maybe us.”