A crash course in changing the world.
IMAGINE 2: Trees
As ridiculous as it may at first sound, I would very much like to image, that in 2020, I would be sitting there and chewing on wood.
Wood contains phenomenal amounts of energy, that we simply can't digest. However, if in 10 years, we unlock the secret, genetically introduce the proper enzymes, and are able to digest wood, food security will be off the agenda for a while.
While it may not be the tastiest (although, who knows how one can prepare it), the cork cambium can, when having the ability to digest cellulose, is able to provide tons of energy.
Really, I think we need to turn our view of food security from simply growing more food, or the same food in different places, to drastically new food options.
While it sounds far-fetched, try to imagine how amazing it is at the same time.
As a note, snails are able to digest cellulose. Perhaps learn (genetically) from them?
-
Comment by Mita Williams on March 15, 2010 at 7:07pm -
I have friends who are lactose intolerant but they can consume milk and milk products if they take a tablet of Lactaid (TM) lactase enzyme before they do so. Perhaps we should look at ourselves as simply cellulose intolerant! +25 for vision!
-
Comment by Turil Cronburg on March 24, 2010 at 5:26pm -
We can east the leaves of many, many plants, and leaves are actually at the very top of the list of most nutritious foods for humans, according to the USDA. I'm not sure why this isn't common knowledge (perhaps because then everyone would have free food from wild plants, and not have to spend vast amounts of money on corporate "food"), but it's true. We can already literally eat the weeds! And it will actually improve our health. I mean I love having the option of going to the store or my garden for some veggies or fruit or other snacks, I know I'll never starve, as long as there are weeds around.
-
Comment by Nicholas Rajk**ar on March 29, 2010 at 9:54pm -
+1 vision from me but as you said, the food security will be off for a while. Did you ever think about any effects of eating wood or trees? Plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen which we need to live so by cutting those trees down for food, we're also letting excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which depletes the ozone layer and contributes to global warming. In the end the vegetation could die because of too much heat and so can us humans by the sun's harmful rays. Agent Dmitry, I agree that your idea for food security is brilliant but next time perhaps you would consider using a more environmental idea. Also, Congrats on making Hero of the Week!
Comment
© 2012 Created by Alchemy.
You need to be a member of Urgent Evoke to add comments!
Join Urgent Evoke