Interesting Links for 07-06-2013

[andrewducker]

• What would Westminster look like under PR?
  (tags: politics uk )
• Letter to Times calls for an end to the war on drugs
  (tags: uk drugs )
• Why princesses need to understand maths
  (tags: princess funny maths )
• Glasgow University holds secret inquiry into sexist heckling, finds everyone innocent
  (tags: sexism glasgow debate )
• China is changing

Comments

[gonzo21]

The problem with the food production article is it pre-supposes no radical environment change. Look at current UK food production, farmers are still having to buy feed in for their livestock because the grass crop is two months behind where it should be at this time of year.

[andrewducker]

Well, yes. It looks at what's happened up until this point - it's possible that climate change might cause massive problems. Or it might mean that large swathes of Russia that were too cold are now suitable for crop production. Either way around it's pretty amazing that we're so much more efficient than we were in the past.

[gonzo21]

This is true. I know GM crops are much lamented, (I'm still on the fence, I don't think they've proved they are safe to consume yet, and there are substantial question marks) but what they can do with them is amazing. The drought and pest resistent varieties are astonishingly clever.

[danieldwilliam]

And think what we'll be able to do with them in 100 years.

[gonzo21]

Hopefully we'll be growing them in low earth orbit to GIGANTIC SIZE! :)

[danieldwilliam]

Radical changes in environment might well be a problem. They could also be an opportunity in the long run. Depends on lots of factors. Disruption I think is likely on average to have a short term negative impact as it takes people a while to figure out what the new opportunities are.

But, I’m left quite optimistic after reading that article that improvements in agricultural technology will make us increasingly able to meet growing demands for food over the next few decades and adjust to changing climate as it happens. And also make local food supply more secure and more tailored to local conditions to avoid conflicts over resources like water.

Colour me cautiously optimistic.

[gonzo21]

The stumbling block will be energy I think, our agricultural systems are incredibly dependent on oil.

[danieldwilliam]

Fair point.

We do use a lot of hydro-carbons to farm, fertilise & move our food to table.

[gonzo21]

I expect there will be a tipping point with regards energy costs rising so high that consumers lose their (largely unfounded) aversion to nuclear power.