Is this a simple possible way to end world hunger and poverty?

[newcatholicwife]

bitrebels.com/technology/high-tech-vegetable-garden/

Ok Im just going to cut to this simple idea. If the company that would have a patent on this could just sell it inexpensively like $100 or less (instead of $90,000) couldnt almost everyone always be able to afford food? And for the people who couldnt afford one… couldnt the governments or charities (like our Church) donate them?

If EVERYONE has their basic needs met and we never run out of food… couldnt poverty cease to exist? People could all pursue higher level careers?

 

[Millie123]

bitrebels.com/technology/high-tech-vegetable-garden/

Ok Im just going to cut to this simple idea. If the company that would have a patent on this could just sell it inexpensively like $100 or less (instead of $90,000) couldnt almost everyone always be able to afford food? And for the people who couldnt afford one… couldnt the governments or charities (like our Church) donate them?

If EVERYONE has their basic needs met and we never run out of food… couldnt poverty cease to exist? People could all pursue higher level careers?

This machine requires electricity…which a good portion of impoverished communities throughout the world still do not have access to. My husbands family is poor and lives in a third world country, 80% of the time they do not have electricity. Electricity is a luxury for them. They grow their vegetables in a simple garden (as does a majority of the other villagers who live in the community). On a personal level, no I do not think that this machine would do anything to help my in-laws to get out of poverty.

 

[newcatholicwife]

This machine requires electricity…which a good portion of impoverished communities throughout the world still do not have access to. My husbands family is poor and lives in a third world country, 80% of the time they do not have electricity. Electricity is a luxury for them. They grow their vegetables in a simple garden (as does a majority of the other villagers who live in the community). On a personal level, no I do not think that this machine would do anything to help my in-laws to get out of poverty.

Its funny that you mention it because my husbands parents live in a very rural tiny part very poor of Mexico and only have very very little electricity in their home from a solar source. Yes… I thought about that too… but for the ones who have access to electricity? It could start there I think… Is it possible?

 

[Millie123]

I think the intentions of the machine is very good…but it sort of reminds me of the women who sent their breast milk to Haiti to feed orphaned babies after the earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Again, the intentions to send the breastmilk was very good. But, practically speaking it was not well thought out. Breast milk requires refrigeration…which requires electricity…something that Haiti did not have. Hence all of that breastmilk went to waste.
When trying to find solutions to end world’s poverty I think we need to keep things simple, people don’t have the luxuries of electricity, many countries don’t have the infrastructure to provide electricity to it’s inhabitants…So let’s try to find a solution that is simple.

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

A lot of people starve because they are too lazy to plant a garden. I knew a man who had a very good garden with more vegetables than he and his family could eat. He told several poor people to come get the vegetables. They agreed. When they arrived to get the vegetables he showed them where the garden was. They said, “You mean we have to pick them ourselves.” They left without any veggies because they were to lazy to go pick them.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Its funny that you mention it because my husbands parents live in a very rural tiny part very poor of Mexico and only have very very little electricity in their home from a solar source. Yes… I thought about that too… but for the ones who have access to electricity? It could start there I think… Is it possible?

I think solar cells have at best a 20% efficiency level. It would robably work out to be more efficient if the plants were exposed to natural sunlight; converting the sunlight to electricity and then back to light would involve energy losses.

I could see these as being a nice thing to have if some one lives in a highly developped city area has no yard of their own and wants to grow food for the fun of it. But I’m pretty sure that it still works out as being more energy efficient to import these foods from greenhouses and farms than to try to grow them with an artificial electric sun.

 

[newcatholicwife]

[

http://http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2012/10/portable_solar_device_could_ch.html

This website says this device can run refrigerators for the whole year…

If poor areas had no electricity they could use this and then maybe the indoor kitchen garden…

so if these technology costs could be lowered they wouldnt even have to worry about pesticides much because it would be inside…](http://http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2012/10/portable_solar_device_could_ch.html)

 

[Overture]

A lot of people starve because they are too lazy to plant a garden. I knew a man who had a very good garden with more vegetables than he and his family could eat. He told several poor people to come get the vegetables. They agreed. When they arrived to get the vegetables he showed them where the garden was. They said, “You mean we have to pick them ourselves.” They left without any veggies because they were to lazy to go pick them.

“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”

I would hesitate to say that because of this one anecdotal experience, you are able to say that a lot of people starve simply because they are are lazy. There is also the difference between starvation and malnutrition, as well as hedging your bets that you could fill your stomach by easier means (which sounds like what these folks you are citing were engaging in).

Not trying to nit-pick. I’m just always made very uncomfortable when people begin positing the concept that the poor and starving are there because they don’t want to be anything other than poor and starving, or are lazy, and therefore necessarily deserve their station in life.

That’s a big ol’ slippery slope, in my opinion, that leads to the callous hardening of hearts, which should be the opposite of what we’re doing. The poor deserve our unflinching support, regardless of their circumstances. We were not instructed to investigate an individual’s work ethic before devoting ourselves to their well-being. We’re commanded to give of ourselves because in doing so, we give ourselves to Christ.

 

[newcatholicwife]

Im not talking about people starving because of their own choice not to eat the veggies and fruits (possibly beans they grow) thats their fault… But I also wouldnt call malnutritioned people lazy. Like there are poor people who need to work over 60 hrs a week… so of course cheap fast food seems more practical for them… unfortunately this could lead to diabetes and heart failure…
But it would be wonderful if everyone had the renewable resources available. They dont really have to spend hours with it I think. Sure they might have to get used to raw meals at busy times but I think it would be just the same amount of time as driving to a drive thru and coming home.
My question is is if the technology wasnt so expensive for this in home kitchen garden and the solar energy device (if needed) couldnt this actually work? I think it would need for A)The technology companies to sell them at low prices and B) charities to donate them to the extremely poor. I think this could at least work in the USA then hopefully to third world countries with the use of the portable solar device…

 

[Millie123]

I’m not trying to be obtuse, but the title of your thread is “Is this a SIMPLE way to end world hunger and poverty.”

I’m going to go out on a limb and say, no it is not simple…many people who live in the most impoverished nations don’t even have a kitchen. They live in one room shacks (which is what my in-laws live in) they don’t have a kitchen they cook their food over a fire.

To me a simple way to grow food would be to find a way to provide the community land for a garden…then provide seeds (seeds would cost .0001 cents per seed)…then provide the means to water the land…Add natural, good old fashioned sunlight that God has made (it’s free too), then you have a simple solution to feed a hungry community.

This garden is not simple…

1. Right now it cost’s $90000…even if we lower the cost, it may still be too much money for the truly impoverished, with my in-laws we send them $400 every 3 months…yes they live off of a little over $1600 dollars a year, on top of that my mother in law sells vegetable at a market. Even if we lower the price to $100 dollars for this indoor garden…that would technically be equivalent to one month of their income. Which is a huge sacrifice. Believe it or not my in-laws are actually doing well for themselves in their community.

2.The article said this garden grows only lettuce…Man can not live on lettuce alone

1. The article says that this machine uses flourescent lights…What is the owner of this device to do once those lights need replacing? Who are to purchase the lights? And who is to service this machine?
2. It says in the article that Hyundai is developing a “nano garden”…it doesn’t exist yet it is still only a concept…But, that garden won’t use good old fashioned free soil, but the owner will have to purchase a “mineral nutrient solution” to grow their indoor garden…Again, that is not simple, but a wasted added expense for the poor. Good old fashioned soil is free, a “mineral nutrient solution” will cost money
3. The solar panel that you showed me costs $2500, which is equivalent to 1.5 years of income for my in-laws
   freecleansolar.com/Solar-Generator-1000-watts-Peppermint-forty2-p/peppermint-forty2-1000.htm?gclid=CKrr157f4cACFZSIfgodThYAPA

 

[tabycat]

I’m not trying to be obtuse, but the title of your thread is “Is this a SIMPLE way to end world hunger and poverty.”

I’m going to go out on a limb and say, no it is not simple…many people who live in the most impoverished nations don’t even have a kitchen. They live in one room shacks (which is what my in-laws live in) they don’t have a kitchen they cook their food over a fire.

To me a simple way to grow food would be to find a way to provide the community land for a garden…then provide seeds (seeds would cost .0001 cents per seed)…then provide the means to water the land…Add natural, good old fashioned sunlight that God has made (it’s free too), then you have a simple solution to feed a hungry community.

This garden is not simple…

1. Right now it cost’s $90000…even if we lower the cost, it may still be too much money for the truly impoverished, with my in-laws we send them $400 every 3 months…yes they live off of a little over $1600 dollars a year, on top of that my mother in law sells vegetable at a market. Even if we lower the price to $100 dollars for this indoor garden…that would technically be equivalent to one month of their income. Which is a huge sacrifice. Believe it or not my in-laws are actually doing well for themselves in their community.

2.The article said this garden grows only lettuce…Man can not live on lettuce alone

1. The article says that this machine uses flourescent lights…What is the owner of this device to do once those lights need replacing? Who are to purchase the lights? And who is to service this machine?
2. It says in the article that Hyundai is developing a “nano garden”…it doesn’t exist yet it is still only a concept…But, that garden won’t use good old fashioned free soil, but the owner will have to purchase a “mineral nutrient solution” to grow their indoor garden…Again, that is not simple, but a wasted added expense for the poor. Good old fashioned soil is free, a “mineral nutrient solution” will cost money
3. The solar panel that you showed me costs $2500, which is equivalent to 1.5 years of income for my in-laws
   freecleansolar.com/Solar-Generator-1000-watts-Peppermint-forty2-p/peppermint-forty2-1000.htm?gclid=CKrr157f4cACFZSIfgodThYAPA

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

Seems the OP has never spent time in the 3rd world and got it in the face how little they have to live on. Lot of areas where people live on the equivalent of US$1-2 per day. From that point of view, it is a struggle just to feed self and family. Anything else? Forget it, ain’t happening, these people have a very short term view of money. If they happen to have any on hand, there’s always something they have to spend it on. Accumulate the equivalent of $100? Not happening, it’s the rare person living in poverty this profound who can accumulate even $50.

 

[newcatholicwife]

You guys arent listening to me… they wouldnt spend $100 on it it would be donated by charity… As far as the less fortunate in our country (the US) I think it would work. Its true about soil expenses though… and I dont know how often they would have to change the florescent bulbs… and I forgot about the areas that dont have home irrigation…
BUT I truly think it could work in the future… maybe 50-100 yrs from now.
But whatever some of you clearly already made up your mind that Im ignorant anyway… thanks for rolling your eyes…

 

[Ridgerunner]

You guys arent listening to me… they wouldnt spend $100 on it it would be donated by charity… As far as the less fortunate in our country (the US) I think it would work. Its true about soil expenses though… and I dont know how often they would have to change the florescent bulbs… and I forgot about the areas that dont have home irrigation…
BUT I truly think it could work in the future… maybe 50-100 yrs from now.
But whatever some of you clearly already made up your mind that Im ignorant anyway… thanks for rolling your eyes…

I’m not rolling my eyes. It’s not unlikely that someday a fairly simple means of growing at least some kinds of inexpensive food will be made available to people. But I think there will be resistance.

Sometimes I think lack of food availability is mostly due to the obtuseness or corruption of governments. One example. I know a guy who has grown very wealthy converting protein into useable products. Mostly, it’s conversion of the parts of poultry people don’t want to buy or eat (backs, wing tips, necks, rib cages, that sort of thing) into pet food. Remarkably, did you know most chicken livers go into pet food because there’s not enough market for them all?

But one day he decided to produce a high-protein, high calcium powdered food that is human consumable out of those things. He did. Passed USDA inspection and everything. It was a powder that could be used as a supplement to almost anything, even drunk by itself as a sort of tea. His thought was to produce it as a “side product” and give it away for free to people in impoverished countries through charitable organizations. Imagine that stuff sprinkled on an otherwise deficient diet of rice or millet or sorghum. And it tasted good besides.

But he learned the U.S. government wouldn’t let him export it. Why? Because third world governments didn’t want it coming into their countries. Why? Because they believed it would ruin the farming and food processing facilities in their own countries.

And there’s no small chance lots of governments would not allow a device like the one you are talking about to be sold at below-market prices in their countries because they would perceive that it would damage the local farming economies, the processors, the transporters, the markets, etc.

 

[Zzyzx_Road]

But he learned the U.S. government wouldn’t let him export it. Why? Because third world governments didn’t want it coming into their countries. Why? Because they believed it would ruin the farming and food processing facilities in their own countries.

And there’s no small chance lots of governments would not allow a device like the one you are talking about to be sold at below-market prices in their countries because they would perceive that it would damage the local farming economies, the processors, the transporters, the markets, etc.

Ridgerunner hints at something else that is not well understood by the do-good’ers:
Local farmers cannot compete with free food handouts. These handouts, if continued long enough, will drive them out of business. Why pay for food if somebody’s handing it out for free?

It’s one thing if there is a natural disaster or a war zone, but once the farmers are back growing food, the free food handouts need to stop or be cut back sharply because the farmers are the backbone of the local economy and their legs get cut out from under them by the NGO’s who ship in food handouts.

This is why we are seeing increasing resistance to food shipments into 3rd world poverty zones. They might relieve the immediate hunger, but they do nothing to help the local economy get on its feet.

Similar concerns exist with below-market technologies as explained by Ridgerunner.

 

[Brendan]

Ridgerunner hints at something else that is not well understood by the do-good’ers:
Local farmers cannot compete with free food handouts. These handouts, if continued long enough, will drive them out of business. Why pay for food if somebody’s handing it out for free?.

That is the first thing that I thought of, that such a machine would increase poverty exponentially.

Everyone who farms, or who support farmers, would find themselves without work.

Sure, they too would have food to eat, so their families would not starve, but they would have no income to purchase anything.

Clothes, housing, education… all gone.

 

[manualman]

Having done some volunteer work in a third world country, the hardest thing to accept for most of us first worlders is that most of our ideas for how to help - don’t. Peace Corps tells their people the same thing. You don’t go in gung ho and help the poor savages up from their poverty. You go in and listen and learn and comprehend how their local economics work and what they actually lack. THEN you can actually develop ideas that do more help than harm.

Most third world nations are not really lacking in adequate viable soil in which to farm. What they usually lack is reliable means of irrigation, fertilizer and distribution of the crops produced to buyers before they rot. The biggest barrier to economic prosperity is NOT lack of access to resources and work ethic, it is political corruption and the resulting wars and use of power to keep the masses in poverty as a means of controlling them.

Most places already have an abundance of magic food growing devices. It’s called dirt, and water and sun. It’s the human part that constantly gets screwed up.