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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] FOOD, LAND, POPULATION and the U.S. ECONOMY
  • Date: Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:02:25 -0600


Given current depletion rates of land, water, and energy resources, U.S.
agricultural productivity is already unsustainable. Should the U.S.
population double within the next 60 years, the subsequent decrease in arable
land will substantially change American eating habits and dramatically reduce
future food exports. ..
Land: On-going soil erosion and expanding urbanization contribute to the
continuous loss of cropland in the U.S. Annually, more than two million acres
of prime cropland are lost to erosion, salinization, and waterlogging. In
addition, more than one million acres are removed from cultivation as
America's limited arable land is Overwhelmed by the demands of urbanization,
transportation networks, and industry. As a result of arable land shortages,
U.S. meat consumption may be reduced.
Water: The groundwater that provides 31% of the water used in agriculture
is being depleted up to 160% faster than its recharge rate. The vast U.S.
Ogallala aquifer (under Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas) will likely become
non-productive within the next 40 years. Even if water management is
substantially improved, the projected 520 million Americans in 2050 would
have about 700 gallons/day/capita, considered the minimum for all human
needs, including agriculture.
Energy: The availability of non-renewable fossil energy explains in part
the historically high productivity of U.S. agriculture. Currently the 400
gallons of oil equivalents expended to feed each American amount to about 17%
of all energy used in this country each year.

- From FOOD, LAND, POPULATION and the U.S. ECONOMY by David Pimentel of
Cornell University and Mario Giampietro Istituto of Nazionale della
Nutrizione, Rome
http://www.dieoff.org/page40.htm





  • [Livingontheland] FOOD, LAND, POPULATION and the U.S. ECONOMY, Tradingpost, 07/05/2008

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