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Comment on Talking about Socialism with Chinese Characteristics keeps getting me booted from Leftists communities

And probably one business will control the entire industry, so it will have huge power over the food supply.

Luckily we're talking about China and not the USA. Let's count our lucky stars that Capitalists don't innovate to the extent that socialists do. Otherwise, they would've already automated and enslaved the human race.

We can produce fertilizers renewably by taking the resources for literal air and waste, the problem is that the cost of doing so is preventive. Just like we can mine e-waste for precious metals; we don't. Because recycling, just like renewable energy in the form of solar/wind, is democratic in how scalable it is. I.e. it doesn't allow for the monopolistic agglomeration of resources and thus the established capitalist class won't invest in these new technologies on their own accord.

China wants to be resource independent so they're investing in these new fields, but it will take some time before the fruits of their labour will show (economically viable) results. These technologies are essential if we want to afford everyone the same level of development the West enjoys.

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roastpotatothief@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨years⁩ ago
I guess so. Thanks.

Just one thing. Fertiliser is a scarce non renewable resource. Not many realise that. I can find you a good explanation if you're interested.

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- Weyland@lemmygrad.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨years⁩ ago
  I thought nitrogen-based fertilizers were renewable?
  
  For nitrogen-based fertilizers, the largest product group, the process starts by mixing nitrogen from the air with hydrogen from natural gas at high temperature and pressure to create ammonia. Approximately 60% of the natural gas is used as raw material, with the remainder employed to power the synthesis process.
  
  The ammonia is used to make nitric acid, with which it is then mixed to produce nitrate fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate (AN). Ammonia may also be mixed with liquid carbon dioxide to create urea. Both these products can be further mixed together with water to form UAN (urea ammonium nitrate) solution.
  
  I don't see how any of these steps couldn't be fabricated without the use of non-reneweable resources.
  
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  - roastpotatothief@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨years⁩ ago
    It's phosphorous. I dug up the old article. It's well worth reading. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/02/phosphorus-pollution-fertilizer/617937/
    
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    Weyland@lemmygrad.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨years⁩ ago
    Well yeah. Still, phosphorus can theoretically be mined though from ocean water. The problem is that with current techniques, yeah; it's not sustainable. Being able to mine it from out direct waste would be ten times better.
    
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