world food just a question

[rocketmanpete]

Just a general question. If we are 5% of the world population and use 25% of the energy (oil/gas) people forget we produce about 45% of the world food. If Obama plans to go ahead with cap and trade to please the IPCC and EU who is going to produce the FOOD? What plug in farm tractors

[TheBundo]

Re: world food just a question

I find it VERY hard to believe that we produce 45% of the world's food

[rocketmanpete]

Re: world food just a question

In 1990, Martin Parry published the book Climate Change and World Agriculture. Table 1.2 from the book gives an excellent summary of the major role the USA played in cereal exports in 1988:
Table 1.2: Major net cereal exporters, 1988 (million tonnes)
USA 98 Thailand 6
France 27 Denmark 2
Canada 23 United Kingdom 1
Australia 15 SouthAfrica 1
Argentina 10 New Zealand -

The data is best described by Parry:

In 1988 three countries accounted for 80 percent of all traded cereals (USA, Canada and France), with over one-half exported by the USA alone (including well over a half of the world's traded maize and three-quarters of its soya beans).

[rocketmanpete]

Re: world food just a question

This may have changed some but this is for staple's.

[rocketmanpete]

Re: world food just a question

Corn is the United States' largest crop, in terms of both volume and value... The United States grew 42 percent of the world's corn in during 2005/6, producing 282.3 million metric tons (11.1 billion bushels). Other major corn producing countries in 2006 included:

1. China -139.4 million metric tons (5.5 billion bushels)
2. Brazil - 41.7 million metric tons (1.64 billion bushels)
3. European Union - 48.3 million metric tons (1.9 billion bushels)
4. Mexico - 19.5 million metric tons (767 million bushels)
5. Argentina - 15.8 million metric tons (622 million bushels)
6. India - 15 million metric tons (590.5 million bushels)

The United States is not only the world's top corn producer, but also the top exporter. On average, about 20 percent of U.S. corn is exported. During fiscal year 2006 (October-September), the United States exported 56 million metric tons (2.2 billion bushels) - accounting for 68 percent of world corn exports. During the same period, other major corn exporters included Argentina (10.7 million metric tons, or 421 million bushels) and China (3.7 million metric tons, or 145 million bushels).

Japan is the largest and most consistent importer of corn in the world. The United States satisfies nearly all of Japan's demand. During fiscal year 2006, Japan imported 16.5 million metric tons (649 million bushels) of U.S. corn.

Mexico, Taiwan, Canada, Egypt and Colombia are also major corn importers and important markets for the United States.

[Wellarmed]

Re: world food just a question

Man I sure am glad that America still manufacturers something other the greeters at Walmart.

[cripple_rooster]

Re: world food just a question

There are some areas considered not suitable to be used for food production, including even urban brownfields, but can be used to produce biodiesel (and cellulosic ethanol) feedstocks easily. Also, sewage and waste from landfills can be a good source of biogas to replace CNG.