For many years I have tried to find a quote from Albert Schweitzer, relevant to his life in, I think, Africa's Gold Coast. He recalled the Confucian thought : give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
The Africans well know how to fish. What they lack are efficient Harbours, free access to Markets, and access to low cost capital.
I've had quite a few comments (especially on Twitter/X) about the use of the term 'fossil fuels'. I appreciate that the Green lobby uses this term to argue that oil and gas should stay in the ground. And many object to the use of a term that implies that hydrocarbon 'production' is fixed and finite. However it's a term used by Jusper - and conveys meaning that's widely understood.
Brexit was supposed to open the door to blending talent from all over the world. In South America - they really value soil - and what they are doing over there is amazing.
In Africa - the Chinese moved into selected countries as they know a useful bread basket when they see one.
Britain used to really value overseas students - who remained fiercely loyal to UK companies and UK institutions until we made it difficult or impossible for them to come and study (or in Jusper's case - changed their minds at the last minute).
All of those multi-million pound implements on farms are mainly syndicated and leased. It's always struck me as odd that we don't recycle those ageing machines through the world's regions when their lease period(s) end. A sort of down-ward age chain for machinery - which creates jobs in the repair and spares industries. It would also address the issue of 'blending' the amount of value-add at each link in the chain.
Soil nutrition in the UK is going downward as it's 'over-fertilised' with NPK and GMO crops. Soil can be less degraded in developing countries by increased fertilisation with NPK. Again - you balance the world-wide boat. The war in Ukraine has upset the 'bread basket' - so building in resilience and scale and having other sources is vital for supply chains.
Fossil fuel is vital to all. The next government pledge to cut fossil fuel as dramatically as they are planning is beyond insane - both here and abroad. I've lost count of the hours I've personally had hands in substrate and the first thing I was ever taught when studying horticulture (part time when in the IT industry) was shifting it was the hardest element to any botanical process - cultivated or agriculture or wild. Why would you not want to replace 1000 people with one piece fossil fuel powered gubbins?
If all the present 'eco-fashionistas' want to know how important machinery is - stop listening to Al Gore and Attenborough and go to a ploughing match! Then you'll see the scale.
This is a HUGE topic - not just for the developing world - but for the whole world.
For many years I have tried to find a quote from Albert Schweitzer, relevant to his life in, I think, Africa's Gold Coast. He recalled the Confucian thought : give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
The Africans well know how to fish. What they lack are efficient Harbours, free access to Markets, and access to low cost capital.
It seems not much has changed in 50 years.
There's an organization that fought for Africa for many decades now to do exactly what they're discussing here. Do you know it?
I think there were a few NGOs in the past. But do expand Simon - if you know of any orgs that might help.
I'm thinking of this project for Africa
https://larouchepub.com/other/2024/5124-larouche_s_oasis_plan_key_feat.html
I've had quite a few comments (especially on Twitter/X) about the use of the term 'fossil fuels'. I appreciate that the Green lobby uses this term to argue that oil and gas should stay in the ground. And many object to the use of a term that implies that hydrocarbon 'production' is fixed and finite. However it's a term used by Jusper - and conveys meaning that's widely understood.
Thanks for leaving this discussion open.
I don't know where to start.
Brexit was supposed to open the door to blending talent from all over the world. In South America - they really value soil - and what they are doing over there is amazing.
In Africa - the Chinese moved into selected countries as they know a useful bread basket when they see one.
Britain used to really value overseas students - who remained fiercely loyal to UK companies and UK institutions until we made it difficult or impossible for them to come and study (or in Jusper's case - changed their minds at the last minute).
All of those multi-million pound implements on farms are mainly syndicated and leased. It's always struck me as odd that we don't recycle those ageing machines through the world's regions when their lease period(s) end. A sort of down-ward age chain for machinery - which creates jobs in the repair and spares industries. It would also address the issue of 'blending' the amount of value-add at each link in the chain.
Soil nutrition in the UK is going downward as it's 'over-fertilised' with NPK and GMO crops. Soil can be less degraded in developing countries by increased fertilisation with NPK. Again - you balance the world-wide boat. The war in Ukraine has upset the 'bread basket' - so building in resilience and scale and having other sources is vital for supply chains.
Fossil fuel is vital to all. The next government pledge to cut fossil fuel as dramatically as they are planning is beyond insane - both here and abroad. I've lost count of the hours I've personally had hands in substrate and the first thing I was ever taught when studying horticulture (part time when in the IT industry) was shifting it was the hardest element to any botanical process - cultivated or agriculture or wild. Why would you not want to replace 1000 people with one piece fossil fuel powered gubbins?
If all the present 'eco-fashionistas' want to know how important machinery is - stop listening to Al Gore and Attenborough and go to a ploughing match! Then you'll see the scale.
This is a HUGE topic - not just for the developing world - but for the whole world.