[p2p-research] land multipliers

[Ryan Lanham]

Yes, both are improvements.  But the localization fans haven't really made a
case based on any rational driver.  Carbon...costs...feasibility, etc.  I
personally like the idea of skyscraper farms in Manhatten and Fulham, but I
don't yet see how they are feasible or sensible.  Of course plenty of cities
have brownfields of various sorts that are idea to transition as farms.
Still, I think some sort of farm market put system that guarantees a market
to urban producers would be the best incentive cities could create if they
wanted lettuce on 4th street.

On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 1:50 PM, richard adler <richardcadler at gmail.com>wrote:

> Either situation would be an improvement, wouldn't it?
>
> A fully urban London that can support itself
>
> OR
>
> a fully urban London dependent to some degree on nearby rural farms
>
> ....would both be better than a London surrounded by sprawling suburbs.
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Ryan Lanham <rlanham1963 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>>  On Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 12:36 PM, Samuel Rose <samuel.rose at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks, Rick.
>>>
>>> I don't think that it is conclusive that London could not support
>>> itself within it's own geographical space with agriculture. Depends on
>>> how it would be done, I think.
>>>
>>
>> Trouble is, urban populations are fluid.  Ag production much less so.  So,
>> to keep pace with demand, urban centers of ag would have to have
>> standardized outputs (essentially a put contract) that would allow them to
>> plan for possible demand drops and lulls.  It is easier to reallocate
>> transportation resources than production.  Hence rural farms with transport
>> will continue to make much sense.  Biodeisel trains could move all the food
>> Londoners need in a day in, say, 100 train cars.  Pulling such a train
>> perhaps 200 km is maybe, ballpark, a 2000 gallon transaction.  2000 gallons
>> of diesel, even at 5x today's price...well within feasible biofuel ranges,
>> would be only 25,000 USD--a pitance to feed London for a day.
>>
>
>


-- 
Ryan Lanham
rlanham1963 at gmail.com
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