Author Question: The green revolution appeared to allow the Malthusian vision of widespread famine to be conquered ... (Read 68 times)

bobypop · **on:** Jul 28, 2018

The green revolution appeared to allow the Malthusian vision of widespread famine to be conquered forever.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

We do not yet know when (in what year) the maximum amount of crude oil produced per year in the United States will occur.

What will be an ideal response?

xiazhe · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Fertilizer and irrigation, both unnatural in the scheme of things, have been
enlisted to increase the yield of the miracle green revolution crops. Consequences could
include depleted soils, salinization, and waterlogging. There are still limits, but they are
sustained by input of energy, so the doom of Malthus has been postponed, not eliminated.

Answer to Question 2

This is incorrect. Fig. 12.8 a shows that it occurred in 1970 . It has (and will
continue to be) downhill from there.