Table 1. Characteristics of Agricultural Land in Various Geographical Regions.
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% of Agricultural
% of Total Land that is
Geographical Total Land that is Cultivated Permanent
Region Land Area Agricultural Land Pastures
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(1000 sq.mi.) (%) (%) (%)
World 50,495 35 31 67
Developed
Countries 21,176 36 33 66
Developing
Countries 29,319 34 29 69
Africa 8,994 37 19 79
Asia 10,334 38 45 53
Europe 1,826 49 55 38
Oceania 3,254 61 9 91
N. America 7,084 27 46 53
S. America 6,771 31 15 81
U.S.A. 3,524 47 43 56
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Source: FAOProduction Yearbook
Table 1 presents some statistics that are ignored by those who would suggest that we can no longer afford the luxury of animal foods. Only about one-third of the land area of the world is classified as agricultural. Thus, roughly two-thirds of the land area of the world is not suited for any sort of agricultural use because it is covered by cites, mountains, deserts, swamps, snow, etc. Of the 35 percent that can be devoted to agriculture, less than one-third (or about 10% of the total land area) can be cultivated and produce plant products that the human can digest. The remaining two-thirds of the world's agricultural land is covered by grass, shrubs or other plants that only ruminant animals can digest. Thus, the inefficiency of animals is not a major concern since they represent the only way these plants can be converted to human food. As the human population of the world increases, it is likely that we will be forced to depend more and more on
ruminant animals to meet the increased demands for food.
[from University of Oklahoma]
From an ecological point of view, Paleo is the only way to go!
Ray Audette
________________________________
From: Don Wiss <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, February 16, 2010 7:38:39 AM
Subject: talking up paleo at a yoga class
I've been following the blogs to stay on top of the trend towards paleo eating. The trend is clearly going up, mainly thanks to the Crossfit crowd.
Here's a blog entry where they go to a yoga class and discuss the paleo diet:
Conversations with a vegetarian
http://whole9life.com/2010/02/vegetarian/
It includes some ideas on how to sell the diet to vegetarians.
Don.
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