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Interesting piece pointing out some possibly non-obvious considerations about future food supply. However, it fails miserably at answering "How" the suggested c
by noahth 16y ago
Interesting piece pointing out some possibly non-obvious considerations about future food supply. However, it fails miserably at answering "How" the suggested change in diet for first-world eaters will come about. Sure, most who care to look realize that feeding grain to animals is an inefficient way to produce edible calories, but in order for there to be a mass shift away from meat consumption in first-world countries, that inefficiency has to be accurately reflected (if not exaggerated) in the relative prices of meat and grains. Should there be a meat tax? It seems that the alternative is years of fluctuation in food prices (as we flail about seeking the new equilibrium) that mostly have a negative effect for the world's poor.
- anamax 16y ago> Should there be a meat tax? There is a "meat tax" which is exactly equal to/accounts for the inefficiency that you're worried about. That inefficiency is in the price of meat because suppliers pass the cost of grain through to their customers. People don't always buy the most efficient. Get over it.