Look, we can point out countless fields of human activity that have only begun to increase efficiency. But to no avail, since you're afraid to face those facts. You think everything is going to end soon, while people with some real knowledge about the world know that many things are only beginning.
Take agriculture. Ignorant people here continuously say we've reached a maximum capacity.
And then Reality knocks at the door in the form of an army of top scientists (they're all on drugs too), which breaks your fantasy into a million pieces.
In this case: if Africa were to use normal fertilizer applications required for crops, it increases its food production by up to 5 times. And sub-Saharan Africa is only using about 10% of its arable land resource. So there's gigantic unused potential both to intensivize and to extensivize.
Africa currently uses no modern techniques in agriculture. If it were to adopt developed world tech and standards, we can produce food for 2 more billion people (just what we need to make it until 2030) AND produce an amount of bioenergy equalling the world's current total primary energy consumption (420 Exajoules).
But you don't know this. You don't want to hear. It's not me saying this, it's the experts in the field and the experts with the satellites saying this. The people who have studied this in a professional manner.
So, I understand that to you, Reality looks like a dangerous drug, and so you prefer to stay away from it. But I will never do this. I'm addicted to facts and to breaking myths. (Have found good ground here).
Current fertilizer use in Africa versus required fertilizer use for crops:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/agll/docs/fertuse.xls > as you can see: Africa currently uses 10% of what is advised for its crops.
In France grain yields have increased 10-fold over the past 3 decades. Africa's agro-production can do the same. The potential is there. I repeat: a 10-fold increase. I don't know if you understand what this means, but it's not really important, as you've already declared everything dead. So solutions to implementing fertilizer distribution strategies in Africa won't come from you. We're not counting on you.
[ If you don't want a spreadsheet, check this page and scroll down:
http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/oldocsp.jsp ]
And no, please don't start about the ludicrous argument that Peak Oil will mean the end of all fertilizer. It's sheer ignorance. The world consumes 190 million tonnes of N (that could be gained from other sources than NG), and 400 million tonnes of non-N fertilizer. Those 190 million tonnes make up a totally insignificant part of the amount of NG that's out there. Moreover, it can entirely be made out of other sources. So don't even start about the ludicrous fertilizer-peakoil argument.
I know this post is an overdose to you, but try it, you might just as well meet Reality, for the first time. Just try it.
