![]() ![]() ![]() Other animals use tools, and some ants, for example, do specialise at certain tasks. He starts by observing that humans are the only species capable of innovation. The progress (and occasional retardation) of innovation is the central theme of Mr Ridley's sweeping work. Many years of field experience in the Americas and Asia have shown GM crops to be safe, but, Mr Ridley rightly complains, the Luddites of the green and organic movements continue to obstruct progress. Genetically modified (GM) agriculture could play an important role, as this technology can greatly increase yields while using smaller inputs of fertiliser, insecticide and water. Feeding another 2 billion people or more will, of course, mean producing much more food. ![]() However, mankind cannot hope to achieve this if it turns its back on innovation. He boldly predicts that in 2110, a much bigger world population could enjoy more and better food produced on less land than is used by farming today-and even return lots of farmland to wilderness. In his new book, he challenges those nabobs of negativity who argue that the world cannot possibly feed 9 billion mouths, that Africa is destined to fail and that the planet is heading for a climate disaster. ![]() A well-known British science writer (and former Economist journalist), Mr Ridley has taken on the mantle of rational optimism from the late Mr Simon. Now, Matt Ridley has a similarly audacious bet in mind. ![]()
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