Dear Curmudgeon
Have you never heard of peak phosphorus? Never heard of falling water tables in North China and India? Never heard of climate change threatening to make major Asian rivers seasonal? Never heard of claims that we'll need 70% more food by mid-century so all nine billion or so can be fed properly? Understanding the past in this case is no assurance for understanding the future.

popnperish - I belive I've deflated all these wild-eyed disaster stories you managed to scare youself with before..

But I don't think I've done peak phospherous. What you're quoting is stuff dating from 2008 when phosphate rock prices went for a big run. They've since collapsed again but have moved up in recent months, I believe because a lot of the reserves and production are in the middle east (sounds familiar), and have been caught up in recent troubles there. If prices are stayed as high as the peak then alternatives would have been found, or demand would have fallen. Phosphorous can be found in a lot of places but it would, of course, be more costly to extract from other materials than the existing rock.

As for water tables falling in China. Yawn! China again. Articles warning of this or that trouble in Chinese agriculture have a long and venerable history.

Major Asian rivers seasonal.. right. Just like the Muarry was going to become seasonal. Are there any of these stories you don't believe?

There was a related item in todays news relative to this very important topic. Notably the shortage of water. Bill Clinton being an active mover and shaker.
Unfortunately this project could just turn out to be another push for the world wide privatization of all water supplies.

Good article Julian, and I'm right in front of you.
http://nakedhydroponics.com

Oh what a guilty feeling

To bin the peelings

Toyonder!

Three words: Paul. Ehrlich. Wrong.