Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
The world is consistently failing to grow enough crops to feed itself, alarming official statistics show. Humanity has squeaked through so far by eating its way into stockpiles built up in better times.
Despite recent crude runup, fuel from plants still 50% pricier; more incentives needed.
What will be the alternative to today’s consumerism and fear of material insecurity? This essay looks toward the next mainstream culture: Life after petroleum-culture collapse. To help explain today’s lack of preparation for fundamental change, we examine historical practices particularly in Europe. This installment focuses on the history of food production vis-à-vis political power and worldview.
China has become a net importer of farm produce, raising concerns at the highest levels of government about the security of the food supply for 1.3 billion people as land and water shortages put pressure on domestic grain production.
The huge amounts of dust blowing across the Earth may have serious consequences for the environment, a scientist says.
FARMERS in Pembrokeshire have launched a co-operative to produce, market and supply biofuels.
Partisan report on potential for coproduction from biomass of charcoal for terra preta soil generation and hydrogen, ammonia and diesel.
With the cost of a key fuel rising, the state’s chemical plants are closing and thousands of workers are being laid off.
Unnoticed by the world, the longest dry period for decades has brought much of Cuba to its knees. Could this be the crisis that finally destroys Fidel’s revolution?
Arthur C. Noll looks at some of the challenges deindustrialized agriculture will face in a post-oil-peak age.
Food activists and small farmers lead project for inner city food security in San Francisco.
Abstract: The last study of the energy balance of producing ethanol from cellulose was back in 1979. It showed that the energy inputs required were 3.3 times the energy contained in the ethanol output. Nevertheless the belief has persisted that producing ethanol from cellulose may become viable. This paper attempts to interpret the most recent plans for improving the process. It concludes that the best plans on the drawing board, at the present time, indicate a positive energy balance, with inputs comprising about 63% of the ethanol output.
