Selection 28 Summary

In the article Food scarcity an environment wake up call, Lester Brown States that environmental degradation in tandem with population growth will cause food shortages. Brown says that the worlds economy will eventually be affected by the environmental degradation . the affects are already becoming apparent , soil erosion, flooding, climate change, collapse of fisheries and more. the agriculture sector will be the first to be hit. Historically it is unsustainable agriculture that has lead to the declines in past civilizations. Lester believes rising prices will be the first sign of decline possibly inciting riots and millions to starve. He then states that cropland per person is decreasing due to growing population of earth. The increasing use of water for irrigation is causing a water scarcity as well. The decreasing supplies of water will create competition between cities and rural areas. The depletion of aquifers in the major ,grain producing countries U.S.A., India and china will also cause a big hit to the economy. Lester than says that the evidence of impending food shortage has been building for years. Food production is falling behind the demand. As result food prices have been increasing world wide which may induce people to change before political instability. He then states that it is no longer only a matter of agriculture but we must also change change our fossil fuel burning economy and our reproductive habits. He concludes by saying our foos reserves are depleting and that a sustainable ecomony is our only hope.