EnergyInsights.net

Peak oil, food and water coming sooner than people think: Oliver

19-03-2010 2:44 pm

Posted By Rob Swystun, The Daily Graphic

The world will start running out of some key components of life if people's behaviour doesn't change, an agriculture pundit said during a presentation in Portage la Prairie Thursday.

John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts, a consulting firm in biotechnology and bio-economy strategies, and Lojon Associates International, told guests at the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council Inc.'s (MRAC) AGM the decline of Earth's oil, food and fresh water supply will come sooner than most people think.

"I think in the first half of the 21st century, we're going to se all three peaks in the order of peak oil, peak food and peak water," Oliver told about 140 guests at Canad Inns Portage, where the MRAC AGM took place. MRAC is a private not-for-profit corporation that administers Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada funds.

People often hear about peak oil, the keynote speaker said, which is the term used for the point when the amount of oil extracted from the Earth reaches its peak and the supply steadily declines, but they don't often hear about peak food and peak water.

Oliver predicted with the continuing growth of the world's population, which currently stands at just under 6.8 billion, the world will start running out of oil in the next five years, start running out of food in the next five to 20 years and start running out of a fresh supply of water in 30-40 years.

See the full story in The Daily Graphic or subscribe to our full online

edition at http://www.eedition.thedailygraphic.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

rswystun@cpheraldleader.com