3 ms·

If you go 50km out of any major city (which is 30min drive with a truck) you always see lots and lots of space that can be used for farming. I literally don't

If you go 50km out of any major city (which is 30min drive with a truck) you always see lots and lots of space that can be used for farming. I literally don't get it. Why not just incentivize more farming work like reduce taxation?

ta988 3y ago
Because then you get money from traditional banks which costs you a lot. VC money is free, especially if you fail. And the next time is always easier because they like people who failed "they learned something".
- romanovcode 3y ago
  You are right, and it makes me sad. If a guy shows up and says "Give me 25 mil to open 10 acre potato farm" nobody would give him money because there is no chance of 10x+ return on investment. However his contribution to society is 10x+ than 99% of the startups.
  - blovescoffee 3y ago
    Many many many farmers rely on loans to start their ventures. VCs fund because of possible returns to them not to society. Banks and Gov do the heavy lifting on ag funding.
swarnie 3y ago
Maybe in some countries (i'm assuming this is about the US?) Over here you drive 50km out of a major city and you've probably passed through a second and arrived in a third.
- romanovcode 3y ago
  Was actually referring to bigger countries in EU (and smaller countries in east-EU). But would apply to US as well.
RGamma 3y ago
Depends on place. Look at satellite images of Germany or parts of Europe in general and it looks like it's all farms with some fake forest interspersed (the "forest" is itself farmland for wood). Very few places left that are free from intrusion on land (and none if you count biochemical or atmospheric disturbance). And it's mostly spots that can't be exploited for physical infrastructure, tourism or agriculture. I've done some back-of-the-envelope calculations with a farmer acquaintance of mine. To preserve a sizable naturally developing habitat you'd need to at least halve Germany's population given current consumption patterns...

ta988 3y ago

Because then you get money from traditional banks which costs you a lot. VC money is free, especially if you fail. And the next time is always easier because they like people who failed "they learned something".

romanovcode 3y ago
You are right, and it makes me sad. If a guy shows up and says "Give me 25 mil to open 10 acre potato farm" nobody would give him money because there is no chance of 10x+ return on investment. However his contribution to society is 10x+ than 99% of the startups.
- blovescoffee 3y ago
  Many many many farmers rely on loans to start their ventures. VCs fund because of possible returns to them not to society. Banks and Gov do the heavy lifting on ag funding.

swarnie 3y ago

Maybe in some countries (i'm assuming this is about the US?) Over here you drive 50km out of a major city and you've probably passed through a second and arrived in a third.

romanovcode 3y ago
Was actually referring to bigger countries in EU (and smaller countries in east-EU). But would apply to US as well.

RGamma 3y ago

Depends on place. Look at satellite images of Germany or parts of Europe in general and it looks like it's all farms with some fake forest interspersed (the "forest" is itself farmland for wood). Very few places left that are free from intrusion on land (and none if you count biochemical or atmospheric disturbance). And it's mostly spots that can't be exploited for physical infrastructure, tourism or agriculture. I've done some back-of-the-envelope calculations with a farmer acquaintance of mine. To preserve a sizable naturally developing habitat you'd need to at least halve Germany's population given current consumption patterns...