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The problem with plants is that other people can grow them. If Colombia makes this work, other countries will be looking on with interest. What actual advantage
by detritus 6y ago
The problem with plants is that other people can grow them. If Colombia makes this work, other countries will be looking on with interest. What actual advantage would an incumbent such as Colombia have over upstart competitors?
Seems like a short-term and inflammatory gain at best.
- TremendousJudge 6y agoI'm not sure how easy it is to grow in other parts of the world, especially non-equatorial climates
- detritus 6y agoFor some reason I have it in mind as growing in much the same conditions as tea does. If so, lots of Africa and Asia could get in on the act too.
- TremendousJudge 6y agoSo, out of curiosity (this is now completely off topic to the original thread) I searched for a bit and found that it needs to be at high elevation in order to thrive, something between 500 and 2000 meters is optimal. This, combined with a very humid one season equatorial climate makes it very hard to achieve in other parts of the world. I guess this is why cocaine production hasn't moved to other parts of the world despite the huge demand.
- jeromenerf 6y agoWell, selection and GMO are well mastered. Marijuana was optimized a lot where the laws where loose enough for the market to allow, the mob competitors were far enough and ecosystem conditions were not originally optimal.
- samatman 6y agoDepends what other parts of the world we're talking about. I bet you the highlands of Southeast Asia, the foothills of the Himalayas, and the Kenyan highlands could grow some superb coca. Oh, and Ethiopia. And Java. Hawaii, probably. Basically if you can grow top-notch coffee, you can grow coca.
- Ericson2314 6y agoYou realize all Western power came from doing things (like colonialism, and industrialization) first but not exclusively? Don't underestimate head starts.
- detritus 6y agoWestern countries were the first colonialists? Britain may have industrialised 'first', but its first-mover advantage was more down to sitting on comparably huge coal reserves than anything else. Elsewise, the Chinese dominance of the global tea trade didn't last much longer after the first tea plants were smuggled out and the Indian tea trade started up. I'm not sure I am underestimating head starts here. All it would take is for one other country to open up to one monied and eager corporation and poof, first mover advantage, gone.