> most efficient available mechanism Efficiency is exactly what you don't want. There is a tradeoff between efficiency, minimising some parameter such as effor

> most efficient available mechanism Efficiency is exactly what you don't want. There is a tradeoff between efficiency, minimising some parameter such as effort or water input, and resilience in the face of uncertainty. If you are "most efficient" you can't withstand even a small drop in the availability of critical inputs, because you are already using the least amount possible. What we need is diversity, a large repertoire or store-cupboard of things that we know about and can make use of.