VicSage
Carpenter, Cobbler, Chirugeon, Dataminer.
One of the more common themes of Sci-Fi stories of all stripes is the addition of worlds dedicated to the production and processing of foodstuffs both for military use and export. Whether they arise naturally through commerce, or through some form of governmental decree, these worlds provide nutrition of varying quality to untold billions across their respective sectors. But it raises a very important question to me.
How long can they be sustained?
How long can this state last? If we were to use the Imperium of Man as an example, we've seen some last ~10,000 years. But during this entire process, the food being sent out is going to leach nutrients from the soil. Since it's being sent offworld, they won't be recycled naturally. Would this lead to the depletion of the soil over time? Would the constant export of millions of tons of foodstuff yearly lead to a leaching of carbon from the atmosphere, or would there be sufficient gain from volcanic or other sources to render that effectively moot?
I'm interested in your thoughts on sustainability of farming in either generic or specific settings. They allow for unheard of levels of centralization, the kind of thing you'd see in Caves of Steel or a hive world, but the loss of one of them due to simple overuse of the soil dooms multiple worlds to starvation.
How long can they be sustained?
How long can this state last? If we were to use the Imperium of Man as an example, we've seen some last ~10,000 years. But during this entire process, the food being sent out is going to leach nutrients from the soil. Since it's being sent offworld, they won't be recycled naturally. Would this lead to the depletion of the soil over time? Would the constant export of millions of tons of foodstuff yearly lead to a leaching of carbon from the atmosphere, or would there be sufficient gain from volcanic or other sources to render that effectively moot?
I'm interested in your thoughts on sustainability of farming in either generic or specific settings. They allow for unheard of levels of centralization, the kind of thing you'd see in Caves of Steel or a hive world, but the loss of one of them due to simple overuse of the soil dooms multiple worlds to starvation.