Efficiency Quote by Vaclav Smil
“You cannot increase the efficiency of photosynthesis. We improve the performance of farms by irrigating them and fertilizing them to provide all these nutrients. But we cannot keep on doubling the yield every two years. Moore's law doesn't apply to plants.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Power Density, 2010
Photosynthesis cannot be dramatically sped up; agricultural gains come from resource inputs, not exponential yield growth.
In simple terms: We can't double crop yields like tech.
Key Takeaway
Focus on sustainable farming practices.
Themes
agriculture
technology
limits
Mood
concerned
pragmatic
Type
policy
environmental
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- farm management
- research funding
Key Concepts
photosynthetic efficiency
resource constraints
Moore's law analogy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we meet food demand without yield doubling?
- What innovations bypass photosynthetic limits?
A Different Perspective
Yield improvements face biological ceilings; alternative food sources needed.
![“Everyone [in higher education] was what I call drillers of deeper wells. These academics sit at the bottom of a deep well and they look up and see a sliver of the sky. They know everything about that little sliver of sky and nothing else. I scan all my horizons.” quote by Vaclav Smil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/643/vaclav-smil-11559_bottom_everyone-in-higher-education-was-what-i_528472.jpg)
