A fable for our time.

The Great Race

One of the most discussed topics among my readers is the future of the human species under the pressure of uncontrolled population growth. The ratio of the amount of food available per capita is decreasing annually despite vast advances in food production during recent decades. Population growth has outrun these advances, and the distribution of the food supply makes it more available in developed countries where population is not growing as rapidly. The amount of the earth's surface which is suitable for cultivation is finite, and is being steadily reduced by human habitation, diversion to non-agricultural uses, damage and destruction. These trends stimulated some interesting speculation among some of my scientist friends and I about what would be the limits of food production if all paved land was to be reclaimed for agriculture, the deserts were to be restored to green, and organic farming would gradually reduce the salinity and pollution in our seas and water resources. Would the food per capita keep up with the population? Mathematically the answer is no. Once maximum production is reached, the food per capita will begin to decline. Unless we, the "intelligent" masters of the earth impose population controls, starvation, disasters or plagues may do so for us. The present population of our planet is estimated to be 6 to 7 billion and to double within the next two decades. We agreed that the number that would allow survivability under acceptable living conditions does not exceed the present. The implications of that are immense. We should be thinking, and doing something about it now.