In the previous post I briefly mentioned how government energy policy is creating a critical shortage of fertilizer. Today I'd like to discuss this self inflicted crisis in a little more detail.
The Haber Process
Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but Nitrogen is almost inert and doesn't bond easily with other elements. Prior to the discovery/invention of the Haber Process bat guano was a primary source of nitrogen-rich fertilizer... and bat guano is genuinely scarce.
Over 100 years ago, two German scientists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, developed a chemical process to transform Nitrogen from the air and methane (i.e. natural gas) into synthetic fertilizer.
Note that Nitrogen compounds can be unstable so the first use of the Haber process was the manufacture of explosives in WWI. Following the war, with the process perfected, the production of synthetic fertilizer took off and millions (perhaps billions) of people have been saved from starvation.
The Haber Process
Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but Nitrogen is almost inert and doesn't bond easily with other elements. Prior to the discovery/invention of the Haber Process bat guano was a primary source of nitrogen-rich fertilizer... and bat guano is genuinely scarce.
Over 100 years ago, two German scientists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, developed a chemical process to transform Nitrogen from the air and methane (i.e. natural gas) into synthetic fertilizer.
Note that Nitrogen compounds can be unstable so the first use of the Haber process was the manufacture of explosives in WWI. Following the war, with the process perfected, the production of synthetic fertilizer took off and millions (perhaps billions) of people have been saved from starvation.
I won't go into the chemistry but you can click the colorful graphic to get a full explanation.
In short, Nitrogen is taken from the air (the blue input at the bottom left) and natural gas (the red input) provides Hydrogen and a LOT of heat. The result is ammonia which is then converted into fertilizer (or explosives).
This is a prime example of why the Scarcity Boogeyman has failed to appear... human ingenuity creates alternatives and substitutes for scarce resources (like bat guano).
As an important side benefit, the use of synthetic fertilizer dramatically increases crop yields... we can grow a LOT more food on a LOT less land. It is estimated that we would need four times as much crop land without synthetic fertilizer.
In short, Nitrogen is taken from the air (the blue input at the bottom left) and natural gas (the red input) provides Hydrogen and a LOT of heat. The result is ammonia which is then converted into fertilizer (or explosives).
This is a prime example of why the Scarcity Boogeyman has failed to appear... human ingenuity creates alternatives and substitutes for scarce resources (like bat guano).
As an important side benefit, the use of synthetic fertilizer dramatically increases crop yields... we can grow a LOT more food on a LOT less land. It is estimated that we would need four times as much crop land without synthetic fertilizer.
Energy Shortage = Food Shortage
This crisis has been building for awhile and the Wall Street Journal has picked up on this looming shitstorm.
I want to be very clear, I don't expect that anyone will starve in America. For us, the result of food shortages will be continuing inflation. Food will cost more (along with energy), but we will get by.
People in poor countries will not be able to afford food and I expect to see all manner of propaganda from the UN saying that Climate Change is responsible for famine. (Click the Pic).
This will be double Boogeymen-of-Doom on a bicycle built for two.
This crisis has been building for awhile and the Wall Street Journal has picked up on this looming shitstorm.
I want to be very clear, I don't expect that anyone will starve in America. For us, the result of food shortages will be continuing inflation. Food will cost more (along with energy), but we will get by.
People in poor countries will not be able to afford food and I expect to see all manner of propaganda from the UN saying that Climate Change is responsible for famine. (Click the Pic).
This will be double Boogeymen-of-Doom on a bicycle built for two.
What About Organic Fertilizer
Organic is good, right?? Sure, manure of various sorts has been used as fertilizer since the dawn of agriculture. The problem is, manure isn't abundant or convenient.
In utopian North Korea the fertilizer crisis is so severe the government is “encouraging” the comrades to produce fertilizer from their own poop. The ‘suggested’ quota is about 300 lbs of poop-per-person. I don't know how they expect to accomplish this, as that is about twice the body weight of the average North Korean peasant.
“In an attempt to incentivize people, North Korea has also introduced a pass which will only be given to people who achieve that quota of manure production,” You can’t make this shit up folks (Gosh I love my own jokes).
If you thought jab-passports were bad.. just imagine the Squad advocating poop-passports to get into restaurants or grocery stores ALL CHEER FOR GLORIOUS SOCIALISM... YAY!!
Organic is good, right?? Sure, manure of various sorts has been used as fertilizer since the dawn of agriculture. The problem is, manure isn't abundant or convenient.
In utopian North Korea the fertilizer crisis is so severe the government is “encouraging” the comrades to produce fertilizer from their own poop. The ‘suggested’ quota is about 300 lbs of poop-per-person. I don't know how they expect to accomplish this, as that is about twice the body weight of the average North Korean peasant.
“In an attempt to incentivize people, North Korea has also introduced a pass which will only be given to people who achieve that quota of manure production,” You can’t make this shit up folks (Gosh I love my own jokes).
If you thought jab-passports were bad.. just imagine the Squad advocating poop-passports to get into restaurants or grocery stores ALL CHEER FOR GLORIOUS SOCIALISM... YAY!!
Conclusion
Energy shortages are inflicted upon us by our own governments and the UN. These shortages will ripple through all aspects of the global economy and result in a declining standard of living in industrialized nations and starvation in poor nations.
We may also see accelerated environmental degradation in poor countries as they are forced to destroy forestland to develop more cropland.
And it is all intentional.
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