>>Seems to me the real crunch will come in the next thirty years as the world’s population once again doubles. We may not have problems at 6.7 billion, but as we reach 14 billion, I don’t see how we could avoid some serious issues.
Check your figures. The growth has slowed substantially. We are talking about somewhere around 10 billion by 2050.
But, more importantly, it would not matter if you were right. Since food production is growing FASTER than population it will lead to more food per person at ANY population level.
You may be right, but I have seen some pretty devistating presentations on fresh water supply. I would also have to suggest that it would be very surprising to me to only see the populaction rise from 6.7 billion to ten billion over the next 43 years.
As you state though by implication, we have been very crafty in our ability to grow food. If fresh water does become as serious a problem as some say, desalination will undoubtedly come into vogue and be utilized much more broadly.
While we’re on the subject, I don’t think the left realizes how much this planet could change for the better if desalinization were utilized to reclaim desert regions developing forestation and farmlands.
There are a number of ways the increased growth could be handled without much problem, if we develope wisely.