Can We Hack Photosynthesis to Feed the World? | Steve Long | TED

Photosynthesis is one of the most important processes on the planet, helping produce the food we eat and the air we breathe. Crop scientist Steve Long thinks it could be more efficient - and he's intent on giving it a boost. He shows how hacking photosynthesis could help feed the world all while reducing climate change.
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[@cosmiclettuce]

The insufficiency problem isn't a problem with production -- we currently grow much more than what we can consume with a lot of that coming indirectly through animals. The actual problem is distribution, which is political. What better way to control a population than by keeping it hungry? So while I'm all for improving how we grow our food, the solution to hunger lies with how we treat one another. Thank you for this excellent talk! :)

[@keithbell9348]

A few years ago I found out that the earth- all by itself, without human interference- produces on avg up to 60 times more food per day, than every human on this planet can consume. Which means that if you had 3 meals a day, after dinner- you would still have 57 more plates of food waiting for you to consume. You are absolutely correct. The planet is doing fine on its own. The problem is government regulation on food production and the consumer model they set up.

[@gottagofast62]

Appreciate someone bringing this up. The whole idea that production is the issue is used to cover up the actual deep rooted issues in the global food system.

[@cosmiclettuce]

Improving food production in the way that Mr Long describes will ***definitely*** help everyone, especially if the food gets better (delicious, more nutritious, etc.). We can improve food distribution, but only if we want to.

[@trnogger]

It's even worse. We have the means to distribute the food we have to basically every corner of the planet, but thanks to the commodisation of food, instead of various food sources collaborating to feed the planet, they compete and displace each other. Evolved economies with excessive food push their product so hard on the developing world that the local producers can't compete and have to leave the market, becoming consumers themselves instead of producers. When the food exports then become redirected or increase in price, often based more on speculation than actual market conditions, the consumers in these countries can't afford the imported food, but also can't produce their own any more. The problem is even worsened by agricorps pushing genetically modified and thus "licensed" food on these markets, which cannot be continuously be grown from last year's seeds, but where the seeds have to be purchased again and again and again. Essentially, the developing world with its agrindustry is destroying native markets and growth cycles for the sake of profit, then leaving the area in the dust, when economic conditions change or they find better places to exploit. And while the technology in this talk seems brillinat from a scientific perspective, it only worsens the issue by creating even more competetive industrialised food that will be abused to destroy more local farming. Or does anybody believe such types of grain will stay free and unrestricted in their use one they leave the prototype stage and become marketable? Of course, if you would stop selling these modified seeds and instead make them a common good, that would be a real game-changer and probably help significantly to solve the hunger problem, but that would be communism, and better dead than red, right?

[@keithbell9348]

@@trnogger Excellent explanation

[@dameanvil]

00:04 🌍 Food insufficiency affects approximately one in 10 people globally, a number expected to worsen, especially in African and Asian countries. 01:02 🌱 Photosynthesis in plants, responsible for producing food and oxygen, operates at about one-fifth of its potential efficiency. 02:33 🖥 A digital twin model of photosynthesis was built to optimize and understand changes in the complex process, facilitating improvements in plant efficiency. 05:02 🌿 Modifying plants to increase the abundance of a specific protein, SBPase, resulted in higher photosynthesis and yield, indicating potential for enhancing crop production. 06:29 🔄 Adjusting crops to anticipated future carbon dioxide levels led to increased yield, demonstrating that evolution hasn't kept pace with environmental changes. 07:26 ☀ Improving plants' adaptation to changing light conditions by regulating proteins showed a 20%+ increase in soybean seed yield. 08:51 🌾 Collaborative efforts between scientists have led to combining photosynthetic enhancements with insect-resistant crops like cowpea, aiming to improve yields for vulnerable communities. 10:51 🌿 Enhancing photosynthesis not only aids in addressing food insufficiency but also helps protect the environment and offers the potential for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

[@1e2werks15]

Be very careful of unintended consequences.

[@nerd26373]

That's a good question. Personally I think photosynthesis has impacted our environment in more ways than one. If it can provide long-lasting solutions, then I see why people might think of this a possibility.

[@petra_cheung]

That's very interesting. Thank you for the sharing on hacking photosynthesis. I have never thought about it until I saw the title.

[@lexgo8013]

I am optimistic and have hope for the future. Humanity is great. Thanks for this Ted Talk

[@unkleskunky]

where do we find the studies on the tolerability of these items? To include the effect on human microbiome?

[@fx_raj]

Interesting

[@deborapereira434]

Vídeo que mostra a nossa real necessidade, juntos venceremos!! ❤

[@Picci25021973]

"Seeds are royalty-free" That's why I put "LIKE" to this video.

[@NeoFighterX]

Now to modify TEDTalks to get a higher yield of this calibre as opposed to the noise and fluff we get inbetween

[@mariaantoniettamontella9173]

bravo

[@liahamada]

i am curious, why they don't just use agae's chlorophyll? As it is known their photosynthetic is higher than in plants.

[@ronkirk5099]

Because of excessive topsoil erosion and groundwater depletion, we may need to use more and more genetic engineering of food crops just to keep up with population growth which will hopefully peak in a couple decades. Being able to incorporate corn's C4 carbon fixing pathway into other crops with only less efficient C3 pathways would be a game changer.

[@BS-detector]

Wrong thinking, just absolutely wrong. You know nothing about organic life and the earth's ability to heal itself. Regenerative farming practices are 100% organic and the way everything needs to go. Scientists are just doing the bidding of a monopolistic capitalist monster who doesn't realize that GMOs are worse pollution than plastic. Why? Because plants spent millions of years evolving into what they are and humans adapted along with them. So some arrogant, greedy fool comes along and thinks he can own everything by putting a patent on it...which should be illegal, btw, because altering a plant is not an invention, it's a perversion and one that's made us sicker and sicker the more its done. Get money out of the picture when it comes to basic human needs and you see how little value these billionaires actually have to offer. Organic is free, needs to stay free, and should be respected by everyone. The reason why bioengineering of the weather is so prevalent now is so gates foundation can monopolize on foods...he's a control freak. Creating problem so he can charge to solve them. Enough is enough. He's destroying everything by 'sciencing' it to death.

[@TufayelAhmed-yg3lp]

❤️❤️❤️

[@tehdii]

Put mirrors between rows of shrubbs :)

[@tvuser9529]

Shunning GMO is something the wealthy can afford to indulge in. When poor farmers are given, royalty free, a GMO plant with better yields and better pest resistance, of course they'll choose that. And he makes a very good point about the climate and related conditions now changing much faster than evolution can keep up with. We'll likely need more work like this, to feed the still growing populations under these rapidly changing conditions.

[@OldOneTooth]

We also evolved in a lower co2 environment and have processes regulated by co2 concentration. I wonder how this effects us and out livestock.

[@darinherrick9224]

To anyone who doesn't believe life was designed by an intelligent creator: "Photosynthesis isn't Rocket Science: It's Harder"

[@ksilebo]

What about Rubisco tho?

[@alexandermoody1946]

What happens when plants need to adapt to net zero?

[@mathew00]

I'm good with making things more efficient, but if we ever lose the ability to put some seeds in our pocket, plant them in ordinary soil and grow food/seeds I would have to believe we don't have a bright future.

[@arkoobi]

So, GMOs.

[@user-si7sw7xy4n]

No Today

[@tzkickz5543]

Carbon based life thrives in a carbon abundant environment. More carbon in the air more lung infections and quicker deaths in animals(including humans). Inturn feeds more carbon into the soil feeding plants more food it likes makes bigger plants.

[@tehreemazmat2929]

2nd comment yay!

[@basitmaqbool2416]

3rd comment

[@arthurzettel6618]

Just leave the farmers alone, stop the political agricultural harassment and let them grow food, and everyone should be respectful and thankful for their hard work and sacrifice.

[@samsonili824]

Hey its Alisa ili Agian. Coming to you alive and welcoming. Now heres something i just though through. So the placement of the plant escalated the plant like a bomb. Now in order to energies the plant enough for photosynthesis to project we have to compensate it by 4 by 2 so 12. Its like a bomb energy for energy. To rallie the plant into one microdose.

[@user-uy2ps6ii1r]

Hunger is not a lack of food, but a lack of salary

[@samarthchavan111]

The base line " GENETICALLY MODIFIED " . And this is very dangerous. 📌

[@Fastlan3]

Everything is dangerous. Better not go outside, the sun will give you cancer. Sorry, just giving you a hard time, of course genetically modifying nature will inevitably lead to some issues, and it is good to practice caution.

[@americanadorkus9563]

God supplied everything we need, governments controlling water and production and freedom and lying about practically everything is what’s killing humanity…

[@Fastlan3]

Lol... Not saying the government is not part of the problem at times, but your take is asinine. Please stop spreading your unhelpful opinion.

[@samsonili824]

Hi my name is Alisa. So I'd like to come to you,Hugh spirited and wealthy in mind. The concept I'd like you to consider is the fact of the usage of practicality. Now I say this in the hopes you would come to understand the usage of a "lie" as If it were the truth, just broken down. 2 to 4 to 5 to 6. 1.34 13.401 135.123 28.34. Simple equation. Spent by Bill. Thank you for your consideration. Love Alisa ili

[@ManuelDelaflor]

So predictably wrong. Think again. The problem is that corporate greed is buying out politicians.

[@liahamada]

💯 God is still in His throne. When Jesus said do not worry for everything we need, i believe even this project someday will success, human's invitations will never equalize God's work. Just remember what is the intending behind babel's tower. I still love and support science for a better life, but not for their ambition to make the world as no need God's help

[@francoestrubia6503]

So, nothing new. Just publicity and demagogy.