WindowView.org
Time
Line Notebook
Water and Agriculture
At this point in agricultural history, simple yet effective mechanization to move water to a remote location — that is, to fields where crops are tended — means a more steady food supply and increased food production. More food supports a greater population size... and herein is a seed for global change. But the world's population doesn't explode just yet. Later, in the modern era sophisticated machinery used to support irrigation becomes of even greater importance. Here is an example in an earlier time when a convenience was an advantage but perhaps not a critical necessity. Today, the world food supply is more dependent on technology.
In recent time, in response to population pressures — as well as the necessity for a farmer to simply produce a consistent harvest year to year — the increased reliance on irrigation is accompanied by losses to soil by erosion, soil fertility, and even a decline in global fresh water reserves. Just about all the land that can be put into production is now in production... and we see a maximization of irrigation with little potential to make significant additions to expand world agriculture. Farmers have come close to the maximum capacity for global production while soil erosion continues and water quality and availability is not an infinite given — especially in the face of global change.
We will not say food production is in jeopardy, the main point here is more basic. From this point on the time line to modern times there is a shift in resource uses and humanity makes increasing demands on the earth as our population grows. This is one of the factors that contributes to what we've discussed elsewhere under the heading of Convergence. The transitions and shifts overtime are part of the WindowView.
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