The U.S food system is very dependent on oil. In fact it uses over 10 quadrillion Btu of energy each year. How will we feed the world once this energy runs out?
2007-02-27 10:35:46 · 6 answers · asked by jarel_chico 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Grow my own fruits and vegitables.
2007-02-27 12:17:57 · answer #1 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the oil wont run out any time soon, and when we ARE getting down to the last few throusand gallons, they will for sure have an alternative plan. Maybe not another fuel souce, but a way to get the oil out of the ocean. There is alot of oil There. But who knows what the future holds. Maybe things will be running on water try watching 2057 on discovery channel sometime! its interesting.
2007-02-27 18:50:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of issues that come to mind.
Since much of the oil/natural gas used for agriculture actually goes to produce fertilizer, (all those nitrates), it will become a problem.
A lot of agricultural output is being put into ethanol production for fuel. The amount is increasing.
A lot of food material goes into the production of food animals. The conversion ratio means that a lot of plant material is needed to produce a limited amount of animal material.
We are protecting a lot of land for environmental/wildlife reasons that could be put into food plant production.
If we free up all possible land for food production, (a lot would be needed without all that fertilizer), especially basic, high energy foods that are good producers, we could feed a great many people. The diet might be boring for many of us.
If we stopped raising food animals and ate the plant material itself, we could feed many more people. We would have to become vegitarians for the most part.
We would have to become much more labor intensive in our agricultural practices. It takes a lot of work to actually till the land by hand without powered machinery.
It could be done, but the world may be very different than it is today.
If we put a lot more effort into nuclear energy, especially fusion reactions, we might be able to replace hydrocarbons as a fuel source. The large amounts of energy that would be produced by fusion reactions might make it reasonable to use inefficient chemical reactions/processes to produce compounds needed for agriculture. This would allow us to continue with some of the "luxury" foods that we enjoy today.
If electrical storage methods become more efficient and lightweight, it may become possible to use electric tractors and other machinery to maintain other aspects of our lifestyles. Better storage methods would also make solar and other alternative electrical sources more practical as well. Electricity produced during daylight and windy periods could be stored until needed.
This question will become more and more complex as time goes on, but you can start thinking in terms of some of these ideas for a start.
2007-02-27 19:28:49 · answer #3 · answered by sternsheets 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully we'll have alternative sources of energy worked out before then. Otherwise it is back to the dark ages for us! I'd like to see the Polywell work.
2007-02-27 18:44:34 · answer #4 · answered by danthemanbrunner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing we could do is become vegetarians. The amount of land it takes to raise one cow could provide food for more than 20 people.
2007-02-27 19:40:05 · answer #5 · answered by MMM 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh, i dont understand, first you say "how will the world feed", but in the explanation you say "how will we...", what do you mean with "WE"?
anyway, dont worry, the people will feed themselves (ourselves)
alone, won´t be the world neither "YOU" who feed "US"?, brother.
and when the food drops out, then "they" will maybe eat "you", comrade.
did all "you" understand?
2007-02-27 18:54:46 · answer #6 · answered by ilerghetto k 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋