General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why Is Population Growth Seldom Discussed? [View all]exboyfil
(17,862 posts)I was alarmed when I saw them.
You mention fallow farmland. Where is it? We are seeing significant clear cutting of forests to generate more farmland. Granted a portion is being turned to energy (which we should be ashamed of), but 2 Billion more than originally projected is quite a number.
I am an engineer in the agricultural equipment industry. I like to think that technology can handle these situations, but projecting such advances can always be dangerous. I am also hoping for a new revelation in the Vatican that switches from no birth control to responsible family planning. It may turn out that our current monocrop approach will be kicked in the head by some future pathogen.
Combine that with the understandable desire of everyone to achieve the highest standard of living which they can. That translates into more meat consumption which means far more grain than currently being produced.
I am not a doom and gloom Malthusian, but these statistics did make me sit up and take notice.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/world-population-will-soar-higher-than-predicted/