• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

A Flexitarian diet to save 10bn people

1spuds said:
2 assumptions are being made
1-That the population will continue to grow
2- That food production has reached its zenith

Just like peak oil didnt happen,and new methods have increased production,so will new methods continue to increase food production.Farming has continually increased production,IMO that will continue.
Click to expand...
Now there is some sense in that post. Exactly. And peak oil is a very good analogy.
 
Listlad said:
Now there is some sense in that post. Exactly. And peak oil is a very good analogy.
Click to expand...
I am all for talking sense, and provided we can stop the politicians messing things up in 2020, then maybe sense will prevail, but it is not looking hopeful at the moment.
 
I have read somewhere that the rate of population growth is slowing. Not sure if that is true but I bet it will be if this diet is forced upon us through legislation.
 
Jim Lahey said:
At the risk of drifting off topic, I have read some literature that asserts methane from livestock being greenhouse neutral, since it degrades in the atmosphere within ~10 years.
Click to expand...
I personally worry more about natural genetic manipulation of diseases (i.e. swine flu) or purposeful weaponizing of diseases by governments or extremists, which would have the potential to wipe out a large chunk of humanity. In this age of anti vaccination movements and others who deny science based fact, I don't find it likely that we will successfully halt global climate change or any of the other problems that our foolish misuse of technology has precipitated. Our successors will surely thank us for using up much of the planet's resources and causing the extinction of many of the planet's species...
 
enb54 said:
Soylent Green is not on my menu of favourite foods... :)
Click to expand...
Set in the year 2022, not that different from the 2020 being considered by UK politicians for the planet saving diet to become the norm. Makes the most of the term recycling, which is also in common parlance at the moment.
 
enb54 said:
I personally worry more about natural genetic manipulation of diseases (i.e. swine flu) or purposeful weaponizing of diseases by governments or extremists, which would have the potential to wipe out a large chunk of humanity. In this age of anti vaccination movements and others who deny science based fact, I don't find it likely that we will successfully halt global climate change or any of the other problems that our foolish misuse of technology has precipitated. Our successors will surely thank us for using up much of the planet's resources and causing the extinction of many of the planet's species...
Click to expand...
We will have successors?
 
Oldvatr said:
I am all for talking sense, and provided we can stop the politicians messing things up in 2020, then maybe sense will prevail, but it is not looking hopeful at the moment.
Click to expand...

It might, if only plant foods were served in the restaurants and canteens at Westminster - with dice sized pieces of meat.
 
Slower world population growth due to lower fertility rates

Future population growth is highly dependent on the path that future fertility will take, as relatively small changes in fertility behaviour, when projected over decades, can generate large differences in total population. In recent years, fertility has declined in virtually all areas of the world, even in Africa where fertility levels remain the highest of any major area.

Ageing population growing rapidly

The slowdown in population growth, due to the overall reduction in fertility, causes the proportion of older persons to increase over time. Globally the number of persons aged 60 or above is expected to more than double by 2050 and more than triple by 2100.

A significant ageing of the population in the next several decades is projected for most regions of the world, starting with Europe where 34 % of the population is projected to be over 60 years old by 2050. In Latin America and the Caribbean and in Asia, the population will be transformed from having 11% to 12% of people over 60 years old today to more than 25% by 2050. Africa has the youngest age distribution of any major area, but it is also projected to age rapidly, with the population aged 60 years or over rising from 5% today to 9% by 2050.

https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html
 
Listlad said:
Slower world population growth due to lower fertility rates

Future population growth is highly dependent on the path that future fertility will take, as relatively small changes in fertility behaviour, when projected over decades, can generate large differences in total population. In recent years, fertility has declined in virtually all areas of the world, even in Africa where fertility levels remain the highest of any major area.

Ageing population growing rapidly

The slowdown in population growth, due to the overall reduction in fertility, causes the proportion of older persons to increase over time. Globally the number of persons aged 60 or above is expected to more than double by 2050 and more than triple by 2100.

A significant ageing of the population in the next several decades is projected for most regions of the world, starting with Europe where 34 % of the population is projected to be over 60 years old by 2050. In Latin America and the Caribbean and in Asia, the population will be transformed from having 11% to 12% of people over 60 years old today to more than 25% by 2050. Africa has the youngest age distribution of any major area, but it is also projected to age rapidly, with the population aged 60 years or over rising from 5% today to 9% by 2050.

https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html
Click to expand...
Pass the Viagra, mate. Gotta get me some successors. 2050 ain't that far away gonna get a shift on or it will all be over too soon,
 
Listlad said:
Slower world population growth due to lower fertility rates

Future population growth is highly dependent on the path that future fertility will take, as relatively small changes in fertility behaviour, when projected over decades, can generate large differences in total population. In recent years, fertility has declined in virtually all areas of the world, even in Africa where fertility levels remain the highest of any major area.

Ageing population growing rapidly

The slowdown in population growth, due to the overall reduction in fertility, causes the proportion of older persons to increase over time. Globally the number of persons aged 60 or above is expected to more than double by 2050 and more than triple by 2100.

A significant ageing of the population in the next several decades is projected for most regions of the world, starting with Europe where 34 % of the population is projected to be over 60 years old by 2050. In Latin America and the Caribbean and in Asia, the population will be transformed from having 11% to 12% of people over 60 years old today to more than 25% by 2050. Africa has the youngest age distribution of any major area, but it is also projected to age rapidly, with the population aged 60 years or over rising from 5% today to 9% by 2050.

https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html
Click to expand...

A/ No mention of China

B/ I thought that average life expectancy was going down and that living longer than parents was no longer expected.

I just wish they would make up their minds...
 
bulkbiker said:
A/ No mention of China

B/ I thought that average life expectancy was going down and that living longer than parents was no longer expected.

I just wish they would make up their minds...
Click to expand...
I wasn’t responding to your question on China. But China does get a mention in that particular link, just one of many references on the topic. Sure, it is anyone’s guess on the future but it is wise not to assume necessarily that the current trend will continue at the same rate.

The good news on population growth is that it appears to be asymptoting between 10 to 12 billion around 2100. All developed nations have net fertility rates below replacement & as the developing world changes similar numbers are expected.
 
Back
Top