In the Garden of Eden, the factors for abundant
crops may have been favorably in conjunction. Today,
we would say there were no constraints in the Garden.
In the eons since, however, smart farmers have
known that abundance requires that they water crops
in many climates and fertilize them on many soils.
Farmers have known they must choose fruitful species
and varieties. They routinely remove constraints
and presently crop five times the area of unconstrained
soils of India--but have raised production
spectacularly.
And the incentives of food for their
families and of profit to buy other things made them
willing to employ their skill. Later I shall examine
whether, realistically, farmers will spare land while
feeding more people.
Ten billion looms as so many more people than ever before, however, that I first examine whether global, physical limits will defeat even smart and willing farmers.