01/26/06 Mother Earth`s makeover

Houston we have a problem! Dear Mother earth has reached middle age and is experiencing a fertility crisis. Really, some scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have just completed her fertility map. Like any other middle aged woman she missed her prime in the 1700'rds when she was only 7 percent out to pasture, now she has used up over 40 percent of her great mass to grow crops or raise livestock. Blame global warming for tickling her time clock but the old girl is out of shape and in trouble. Holistic methods haven't worked. Organic farming has been practiced for centuries, yet requires more land to feed the masses.(look what happened to Africa) The Petri dish is her only hope through the genetic modification of plants. In fact biotechnology could add years to her life by giving her ability to produce more food on less land. According to her spokesperson , Mother Earth (who wishes to now be known) as Ms Earth is thrilled to be re-inventing herself (like Madonna) and can't wait for her green revolution to begin. I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought. Source: smh.com Earth Fertility maps reveal a growing problem. 12/07/05