Feed a world population of 9.2 billion???

[Guest guest]

Jim Rutledge wrote: "If modest diets are adopted, with a low level of inequality in food distribution,

organic agriculture could feed a world population of 9.2 billion." But therein lies the problem, in the emerging nations with improving economies the appetite for animal protein is almost unlimited. When the economic conditions of a people improve, the almost always go for superior goods. And that means animal protein. Be it Dairy, beef, pork or poultry, the demand for animal protein is there. Look at cow, hog and chicken prices. And which of us is going to restrict their diets or the diets of our children or grand children in the name of "nutritional equity?" And beyond that more hunger and malnutrition are political than economic. Many despot nations use food for political control and we will never be able to stop that. Much of the world's arable land is not suitable for grain or vegetables because of climate or water issues, but is very suitable for grazing animals. SO let us go in that direction. As far as adjusting diets,

a study in the '60s showed that if African people would abandon cattle and goats, the bush would produce almost 4 times as many pounds of protein per acre in mixed game as it does with single species grazing. And more recent studies have shown that if they would stop burning and got to intensive grazing they could increase protein production with cattle by about 50% and careful management up to double the production.This does not take an increase in animal numbers or money, just management. BillRoseboro, NC

[Guest guest]

I've got just the solution - quit using all the land now used for biofuels and

convert it to something either we eat or the cattle eat! No more shortage of

space for cattle and we can eat too.

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> " If modest diets are adopted, with a low level of inequality in food

distribution, organic agriculture could feed a world population of 9.2 billion. "

>  

>

> But therein lies the problem, in the emerging nations with improving economies

the appetite for animal protein is almost unlimited. When the economic

conditions of a people improve, the almost always go for superior goods. And

that means animal protein. Be it Dairy, beef, pork or poultry, the demand for

animal protein is there. Look at cow, hog and chicken prices. And which of us is

going to restrict their diets or the diets of our children or grand children in

the name of " nutritional equity? " And beyond that more hunger and malnutrition

are political than economic. Many despot nations use food for political control

and we will never be able to stop that.

> Much of the world's arable land is not suitable for grain or vegetables

because of climate or water issues, but is very suitable for grazing animals. SO

let us go in that direction. As far as adjusting diets, a study in the '60s

showed that if African people would abandon cattle and goats, the bush would

produce almost 4 times as many pounds of protein per acre in mixed game as it

does with single species grazing. And more recent studies have shown that if

they would stop burning and got to intensive grazing they could increase protein

production with cattle by about 50% and careful management up to double the

production.

> This does not take an increase in animal numbers or money, just management.

>

> Bill

> Roseboro, NC

>