That was far less complicated. There were just two competing countries, both throwing money at it, and both wanting military spinoffs.
There have been efforts, off and on in recent decades, to transform US agricultural practices. And also in many other countries. But agricultural lobbies are strong, and resist measures that reduce profitability. And governments resist measures that reduce production, and increase risks of shortages and famine.
There are maybe a few sectors where need for insects is recognized. Bees, certainly, and some soil dwellers. But mostly they're just pests to be killed, or at best irrelevant.
This is much like climate change. And it's all part of the Great Anthropocene Extinction that we're in the midst of. Tragically, efforts to reduce impacts will begin at scale only once it's too late for them to do much. It's like me and that liter of ice cream in the freezer. All the knowing in the world won't keep me from eating it, if I'm tired and hungry enough.
There have been efforts, off and on in recent decades, to transform US agricultural practices. And also in many other countries. But agricultural lobbies are strong, and resist measures that reduce profitability. And governments resist measures that reduce production, and increase risks of shortages and famine.
There are maybe a few sectors where need for insects is recognized. Bees, certainly, and some soil dwellers. But mostly they're just pests to be killed, or at best irrelevant.
This is much like climate change. And it's all part of the Great Anthropocene Extinction that we're in the midst of. Tragically, efforts to reduce impacts will begin at scale only once it's too late for them to do much. It's like me and that liter of ice cream in the freezer. All the knowing in the world won't keep me from eating it, if I'm tired and hungry enough.