On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 02:10:13 +0200, Torsten Brinch
wrote:

On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 02:12:07 GMT, Don Foster
wrote:

Taking an earlier post one step further...

An exploration into the notion of how Iowa farmers would fare in feeding
the world produced an unlikely result: the soy and corn crops of
thirty-five Iowa(s) would feed the worlds population at 3500 Cal./day.
..
Taking it one step further, we can compare the acreage Iowa has in corn
and soy with the total acreage in cultivation worldwide. Figures as
follows:

Iowa 2001 soy =11,000 acres
Iowa 2001 corn =11,700 acres
Total Iowa acres = 22,700 acres

That can't be right, Iowa's acres would be in the millions.
I think you're a factor 1000 off here.

Total world cultivation = 17,820,900 sq. kilometers

Sorry, should have read on. I'd make that 15,000,000 sq. kilometers.

Total world cultivation = 4,403,483,977 acres (@ 247.01 acres/sq.kilometer
)
Ratio - Total world cultivation/Total Iowa acres = 193,986


So, while a hypothetical area roughly 35 times that of Iowa's in corn
and soy should be sufficient to feed every person on the planet; an
actual area roughly 194,000 times that of Iowa's is insufficient.

Somewhat surprising, yes? Illumination?

My thanks,
Don Foster
Colorado