Aug 31, 2018 at 8:10 PM | Mark Hodgson

The biggest disaster for cereal crop production, leading to price increases on the world market, and starvation for those unable to pay, has been the switch to producing biofuels.

The World Bank knew in 2008, but did not want to tell anyone:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jul/03/biofuels.renewableenergy

"Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previously estimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian.

The damning unpublished assessment is based on the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by an internationally-respected economist at global financial body.

The figure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims that plant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises. It will add to pressure on governments in Washington and across Europe, which have turned to plant-derived fuels to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce their dependence on imported oil."

Far easier to blame it on "Global Warming"

Reasons to be positive about leaving the EU:

"Austria: Climate, agricultural policy reform are EU presidency priorities"

https://www.politico.eu/article/austria-climate-agricultural-policy-reform-are-eu-presidency-priorities/

"Dealing with climate change and ensuring agriculture is sustainable are the priorities of the Austrian EU presidency, according to the country’s sustainability minister, Elisabeth Köstinger."

...“The general theme of the Austrian presidency is a ‘Europe that protects,’” the minister said. “For me, climate protection is at the top of the agenda. My political goal is that climate protection becomes a concern of citizens, not only in Austria, but throughout Europe.”

Latest climate change panic:

"Pests to eat more crops in warmer world
By Lucy R Green
Science reporter"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45358643

"Insects will be at the heart of worldwide crop losses as the climate warms up, predicts a US study.

Scientists estimate the pests will be eating 10-25% more wheat, rice and maize across the globe for each one degree rise in climate temperature.

Warming drives insect energy use and prompts them to eat more. Their populations can also increase.

This is bound to put pressure on the world's leading cereal crops, says study co-author Curtis Deutsch."

..."There is already reckoned to be a direct effect of climate change on crops, with yields declining by about 5% for every one degree increase in temperature.

That loss will be 50% higher because of insect damage, said Prof Tewksbury from the University of Colorado Boulder, US.

So, this new research suggests the action of pests will accelerate temperature-induced impacts."

Apart from my scepticism about this piece as a whole, I'm also sceptical about the claim that yields decline by 5% "for every one degree in temperature" giving both the greening of the Sahel and what we know about declining yields and starvation during the Little Ice Age.

Tucked away well down the article is this, for what it's worth:

"But in the tropics, insects are already closer to the optimal working temperature and a rise in temperature is actually likely to start limiting populations.

This would lead to fewer insects and fewer crops being damaged."

Pcar.

Ha, ha.

Owen Jones is a total.... [insert epithet]. I'm hoping that one day he has such a big meltdown he makes himself unemployable.

UaT. Wow, reverse fishing - Mormon style!

Aug 31, 2018 at 6:15 PM | Supertroll

Hardly formation skydiving. Do Mormons not believe in parachutes?

UaT. Wow, reverse fishing - Mormon style!

I'd help them eat it but I prefer British lamb.