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The fact is that the energy crisis, which has suddenly been officially announced, has been with us for a long time now, and will be with us for an even longer time. Whether Arab oil flows freely or not, it is clear to everyone that world industry cannot be allowed to depend on so fragile a base. (71) The supply of oil can be shut off unexpectedly at any time, and in any case, the oil wells will all run dry in thirty years or so at the present rate of use.
(72) New sources of energy must be found, and this will take time, but it is not likely to result in any situation that will ever restore that sense of cheap and plentiful energy we have had in the times past. For an indefinite period from here on, mankind is going to advance cautiously,and consider itself lucky that it can advance at all.
To make the situation worse, there is as yet no sign that any slowing of the world's population is in sight. Although the birth-rate has dropped in some nations, including the United States , the population of the world seems sure to pass six billion and perhaps even seven billion as the twenty-first century opens.
(73) The food supply will not increase nearly enoueh to match this, which means that we are heading into a crisis in the matter of producing and marketing food.Taking all this into account , what might we easonably estimate supermarkets to be like in the year 2001?
To begin with, the world food supply is going to become steadily tighter over the next thirty years-even here in the United States. By 2001 , the population of the United States will be at least two hundred fifty million and possibly two hundred seventy million, and the nation will find it difficult to expand food production to fill the additional mouths. (74) This will be particularly true since energy pinch will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high-energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields.
It seems almost certain that by 200l the United States will no longer be a great food-exporting nation and that , if necessity forces exports, it will be at the price of belt-tightening at home.
In fact, as food items will tend to decline in quality and decrease in variety, there is very likely to be increasing use of flavouring additives. (75 ) Until such time as mankind has the sense to lower its pupulation to the point where the planet can provide a comfortable support for all,people will have to accept more "unnatural food".
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