I agree, but even fragile soils can be helped with old-fashioned techniques (though perhaps not healed). Part of the problem, of course, is that in many places the best lands were grabbed by the Europeans during colonization.
On Feb 20, 2008 8:45 AM, Perelman, Michael <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It is worse than that. Many of Africa's soils are very fragile -- not > like our own Midwest. That kind of farming is not sustainable, but the > same goes for some of Brazil, which is doing so far more intensively. > > > > Michael Perelman > Economics Department > California State University > michael at ecst.csuchico.edu > Chico, CA 95929 > 530-898-5321 > fax 530-898-5901 > michaelperelman.wordpress.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: PEN-L list [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim Devine > Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 7:47 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [PEN-L] fertilizer [was: Peak food] > > speaking of excessive energy costs, there was a story on US National > Public Radio a week or so ago about the loss of fertility of African > soils. The experts spoke, recommending aid to help Africans buy more > (energy-intensive, import-intensive) artificial infertilizer. Whatever > happened to rotating crops, letting some land lay fallow, and/or > growing crops together that help each other. > > soula avramidis wrote: > > isn't the rising cost of energy content of modern agriculture > specifically > > rising oil prices partly responsible for the rise in food prices? > -- > Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own > way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. > -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
