# We can perform agriculture without fossil fuels

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-perform-agriculture-without-fossil-fuels/688701>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 19, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-perform-agriculture-without-fossil-fuels/688701 "2014-05-19T01:14:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-perform-agriculture-without-fossil-fuels/688701/61 "2014-05-27T02:28:21Z")

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> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#):
>
> But there isn’t any reason why agriculture has to be done with the same scale of machinery, especially if we understand that it is important to scrub the carbon emissions out of the process.

Agriculture involves the creation of carbon scrubbing plants. It’s a self cleaning process involving a months worth of travel for a years worth of production.

Now consider the co2 involved with your job. I’m thinking there’s a better windmill to tilt at.

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**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-perform-agriculture-without-fossil-fuels/688701/62 "2014-05-27T02:51:23Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Agriculture involves the creation of carbon scrubbing plants. It’s a self cleaning process involving a months worth of travel for a years worth of production.
> 
> Now consider the co2 involved with your job. I’m thinking there’s a better windmill to tilt at.

He isn’t wrong, although it’s the fertilizer production that releases the C02, not the tractors.

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**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-perform-agriculture-without-fossil-fuels/688701/63 "2014-05-27T03:02:57Z")

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A recent study shows that using ag waste to make ethanol is worse, CO[sub]2[/sub]-wise, than the gasoline it replaces. It was highlighted in Science in the past month or so. I need to snooze so I can catch an early plane tomorrow, but I can look it up later if there is interest.

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**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\
**Post date:** [May 27, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-perform-agriculture-without-fossil-fuels/688701/64 "2014-05-27T13:54:32Z")

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> [@Ruken](#):
>
> A recent study shows that using ag waste to make ethanol is worse, CO[sub]2[/sub]-wise, than the gasoline it replaces. It was highlighted in Science in the past month or so. I need to snooze so I can catch an early plane tomorrow, but I can look it up later if there is interest.

Yes, I’d be interested. Of course, we’d be producing our ag waste with electric tractors powered by renewables (or maybe it will be tractor-free, hydroponic ag waste), so the question is whether it is worth doing in that (admittedly hypothetical) case.

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