In Bangladesh, we are unable to fully solve our electricity problems, but on the other hand, almost every country in the world is concerned about the future of energy. Currently, the majority of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels. But this energy reserve is not infinite. At most, it might last fifty or maybe a hundred years. Or perhaps a thousand more years—but what happens after that? Sooner or later, this reserve will run out. That’s why everyone is conducting extensive research into alternative energy sources.
The most worrying thing is what will happen if, before humanity finds a good alternative energy source, the reserves of crude oil run out. It’s thought that this could lead to wars over energy. Imagine suddenly learning that the Middle East’s oil reserves are nearly depleted. In that case, the countries in the Middle East would reduce their oil production. Instantly, the world would face a crisis. There could be wars over the remaining oil. Such a situation could be a huge threat to the world’s economic stability. The global economy could become shaky or even completely collapse.
As oil supplies dwindle, the price of oil would skyrocket. Oil would become unaffordable for the common person. Our current economic activities are all somehow connected to crude oil. No cars or buses would run; offices, courts, schools, and hospitals could all shut down. Food supply would decrease, possibly leading to food shortages or even famine.
Even if Middle Eastern countries try to profit by selling the last of their oil at exorbitant prices, that may not save them from attacks by other countries. As a result, there’s a possibility of a world war. In such a situation, countries rich in food resources and those focused on agriculture would benefit. Even if the global economy changes completely, agricultural countries might be less affected. While they might face some initial difficulties due to shortages of fertilizer, pesticides, and machinery, they could revert to traditional agricultural practices.
Industrialized countries will change their approach and shift focus towards agriculture. People will work to develop biofuel-based energy sources. For example, ethanol made from corn is already being used for running vehicles. People will put more effort into developing such innovations. If a world war erupts during all this, human life could be set back another hundred years.
The world we see afterwards might be an agriculture-dependent one. In many countries, just as military training is required for a few years, people may need to gain experience in farming as well. Agricultural knowledge might become a part of job interviews. As funny as it sounds, we could actually end up in such a world. And this situation is of our own making—we have become overly dependent on energy.
However, there is hope. To avoid such a scenario, scientists around the world are racing to find alternative sources of energy. If we look at the topics of research in various countries, energy-related issues are at the forefront.
In conclusion, I would say that it’s time for us to look back and give importance to agriculture once again.
This article was published in Technology Today in 2010
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