Environment & Energy

Nederland

(9,979 posts)

19. The 'Green Revolution' did not defuse the Population Bomb

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 03:24 AM

Jan 2013

Ehrlich was just wrong.

Defenders of Ehrlich would have you believe that all the signs pointed to disaster, but a sudden surge in agricultural output saved the day. In fact, when you look at the data you see that the 'Green Revolution' was not a revolution at all. Improvements in agriculture have happened at a slow and steady pace for the last 60 years. Ehrlich's mistake was to simply assume--with no supporting evidence at all--that those improvements would simply stop.

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Nicholas Stern: 'I got it wrong on climate change � it's far, far worse' [View all] xchrom Jan 2013 OP

It's Not Nice To Fool With Mother Nature cantbeserious Jan 2013 #1

At the risk of PATRICK Jan 2013 #2

Actually there's a good reason for that. caseymoz Jan 2013 #5

Ehrlich's Population Bomb pscot Jan 2013 #15

We were already beyond the limits of sustainability caseymoz Jan 2013 #16

The population bomb was *temporarily* defused by the GR. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #17

No internal constraints? Nederland Jan 2013 #20

It's called overshoot NickB79 Jan 2013 #26

But we're *human beings*! GliderGuider Jan 2013 #27

Exactly Nederland Jan 2013 #30

"You believe" it makes the analogies invalid. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #32

True, and I provided an explanation for my beliefs Nederland Jan 2013 #36

Using that reasoning, I cannot fathom why any past civilization has collapsed NoOneMan Jan 2013 #40

I think both are only partially true. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #43

Previous civilizations were not global... Nederland Jan 2013 #46

By the same token, I'm just saying GliderGuider Jan 2013 #50

A distinction without a difference? Nederland Jan 2013 #54

Yes GliderGuider Jan 2013 #58

You need to get up to date Nederland Jan 2013 #89

"most did not collapse from lack of food" NoOneMan Jan 2013 #59

Radically different how? NickB79 Jan 2013 #33

These ways Nederland Jan 2013 #34

"in a way that ensures that adjustments will be made..." NoOneMan Jan 2013 #39

Humans have always been exceptional. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #44

Market forces will replace the Laurentian Shield with 24-36" of rich, loamy topsoil . . . hatrack Jan 2013 #45

This message was self-deleted by its author Nederland Jan 2013 #49

Where does that pic come from? Nederland Jan 2013 #47

That's a BBC article using data now published from Ortiz of Cimmyt NoOneMan Jan 2013 #51

Did you actually read the article? Nederland Jan 2013 #55

Ortiz, the author, is a research agronomist for CIMMYT GliderGuider Jan 2013 #56

That paper only deals with wheat Nederland Jan 2013 #60

Wiggle much? GliderGuider Jan 2013 #62

This guy says much the same: NoOneMan Jan 2013 #64

You are the one that is shifting the goalposts Nederland Jan 2013 #67

That question has been answered already. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #68

By which post? (nt) Nederland Jan 2013 #70

By this one GliderGuider Jan 2013 #71

How many times do you have to make the same mistake? Nederland Jan 2013 #72

The issue is the productivity and utility of the plants that might be substituted. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #81

One could ask you the same question. Nihil Jan 2013 #93

Agreed, but now follow through Nederland Jan 2013 #94

What, you've never heard of groupthink? GliderGuider Jan 2013 #95

Primarily, but maize is mentioned NoOneMan Jan 2013 #63

A peer review look at the issue Nederland Jan 2013 #52

"Climate change is expected to increase yields" NoOneMan Jan 2013 #57

BTW, did anyone else notice those articles were from 1994 and 1999? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #61

Good catch Nederland Jan 2013 #73

Except those recent food scarcity studies directly contradict your lies NoOneMan Jan 2013 #74

And yet time and time again, the animal model,... TheMadMonk Jan 2013 #66

There is no edge Nederland Jan 2013 #28

You're ignoring topsoil depletion NickB79 Jan 2013 #31

No I'm not Nederland Jan 2013 #35

So, the Invisible Hand then? NickB79 Jan 2013 #37

Massive collapse? Nederland Jan 2013 #38

"create an enormous incentive to"...feed the people with the wealth to pay for the resource NoOneMan Jan 2013 #41

I agree Nederland Jan 2013 #48

The nation of "let them die" as a healthcare platform (still) will feed its poor? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #53

News Flash: The Poor are Already Dying Nederland Jan 2013 #69

At the apex of agrarian civilization, with mild headwinds NoOneMan Jan 2013 #75

What is your point? Nederland Jan 2013 #78

That its not going to be an uphill ride NoOneMan Jan 2013 #80

That's one hell of a paper you found. GliderGuider Jan 2013 #82

Deja Vu Nederland Jan 2013 #83

Climate change is "the same old tripe"? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #84

Posted in the wrong place? Nederland Jan 2013 #86

So temperature increases will not bring harm (doom) to some people? NoOneMan Jan 2013 #88

Harm yes, doom no (nt) Nederland Jan 2013 #90

So when studies suggest that 3 billion face famine, or entire countries will be underwater NoOneMan Jan 2013 #91

Over what time frame? Nederland Jan 2013 #92

So how was lunch with Julian Simon? GliderGuider Jan 2013 #85

Good. He paid with the money he won betting Paul Ehrlich Nederland Jan 2013 #87

And wasted by those self same peoples. TheMadMonk Jan 2013 #65

The 'Green Revolution' did not defuse the Population Bomb Nederland Jan 2013 #19

So Norman Borlaug didn't deserve a Nobel Prize after all? GliderGuider Jan 2013 #22

He certainly deserved it Nederland Jan 2013 #23

No, you said "The Green Revolution did not defuse the Population Bomb". GliderGuider Jan 2013 #25

There is a population problem Nederland Jan 2013 #29

They have always emphasized that their estimates are conservative. Downwinder Jan 2013 #6

Lord Stark warns us that winter is coming. RadiationTherapy Jan 2013 #3

Yes, Winter is Comin' (love that show) tavalon Jan 2013 #7

Great point! dreamnightwind Jan 2013 #21

D'oh Berlum Jan 2013 #4

It's not planetary fail, though tavalon Jan 2013 #8

"The earth is an organism, and that organism has a skin; that skin has diseases... alterfurz Jan 2013 #12

I've never been compared to Nietzsche tavalon Jan 2013 #13

I think you're supposed to feel pscot Jan 2013 #18

It's easier than thinking. Fuddnik Jan 2013 #9

Seriously, if I hear "it's in God's hands" once more mountain grammy Jan 2013 #11

Nice pic Nederland Jan 2013 #24

"climate change advocates aren't being taken seriously" NoOneMan Jan 2013 #42

I see Nederland Jan 2013 #76

He's "talking" about it now NoOneMan Jan 2013 #77

Sure, now that he's never running again... (nt) Nederland Jan 2013 #79

Once again, It is the bean counters sounding alarm, ... CRH Jan 2013 #10

well that sucks. nt limpyhobbler Jan 2013 #14