A space for mostly short form stuff and responses to things I see elsewhere.
The wholeness of the word: 'Regenesis' as myth, Part II | Chris Smaje
”Plants are energised by zero-carbon, zero-cost sunlight, whereas factory-produced microbial biomass is energised by generated electricity at an energetic cost amounting to at least an order of magnitude more.”
Not going to quibble about that order of magnitude greater than zero. The point is very well made: Proposed ecomodernist solutions to future food supply are not solutions at all.
Localism, manufactured food and energy futures: thoughts from the Groundswell Festival | Chris Smaje
In other words, there’s no sign of an energy transition out of fossils yet.
Just in case you were feeling optimistic because energy from solar increased by 24% last year ...
What We Owe The Future – A review by Tim Harford
Tim Harford's lukewarm review of William MacAskill's book.
If he is right, how could I justify giving £10 to a food bank today when I could set up a charitable trust, let the money accumulate centuries of compound interest before lavishing the proceeds on future generations? Are we morally obliged to live at subsistence levels to maximise the resources available for investment and research so our great-great-great-great-grandchildren will thrive? Such questions have been discussed and analysed at great depth in the literature on climate change. It is surprising to see them waved away with a few sentences here.
Is it that surprising, really?
From regenesis to re-exodus: of George Monbiot, mathematical modernism and the case for agrarian localism
George Monbiot illuminates and infuriates in equal measure, although I suspect, after reading Chris Smaje’s review, that I will not be paying much attention in future. I have not read Regenesis, so will say nothing about it myself. Two quotes from Chris (of many others I could have chosen):
“[A]n alternative, perhaps counterintuitive but more plausible argument [is] that low food prices in fact are a fundamental cause of global poverty.”
“[T]here’s no such thing as ‘an inexorable economic logic’, there are just political games with winners and losers – a point the old George Monbiot once understood.”
Yup.
Scotland, stop selling yourself shortbread!
Excellent, thought-provoking read on the fall and rise of local food traditions.
Why can’t food scientists and nutritionists be friends?
For one thing, it's a lot easier to call yourself a "nutritionist". Then again, where do food scientists work except in industry, or training more food scientists?
How Big Beer’s Fight Over Corn Syrup Explains American Brewing Today
Interesting piece from Tom Philpott at Mother Jones, pointing out that ALL the big brewers use additional sources of food for their yeasts. Some use corn, some use rice. A pox on all of them.
The research agenda we really need
Colin Tudge at the Campaign for Real Farming points up just a few of the ways in which the current approach to research into food and food production lets us all down.
"Our Hidden Wound | The Contrary Farmer"
On World Food Day, so delighted to see this piece from Gene Logsden pop up in my feed.
https://thecontraryfarmer.wordpress.com/2018/10/15/our-hidden-wound-2/