boserup

• FPO

  Factor: Under pressure, humans will innovate to improved yield. Increasing population density would lead to agricultural intensification. A growing population would therefore lead to long-term increases in agricultural output

  Process: Boserup believed that population growth and increasing population density were key factors in inspiring innovation in traditional food production systems, provided that the rate of population growth is not too rapid 

  Outcome: This results in resources growing in a stepped manner, always remaining ahead of population
• Short-term

  A period of sustained population growth would lower output per man hour because more intensive methods would mean work on the part of the agricultural labourer
• Long-term

  • Workers would become more efficient at the tasks required by the new intensive regime 
  • The growing population would stimulate more efficient production by allowing the division of labour
• Conclusion of long-term and short-term

  A growing population or increased population leads ultimately to long term increases in output that outweigh short-term decline
• criticism (Did not consider economic, social and political factors in her application of increasing efficiency in output)

  • Government policies can shape and influence innovation and intensification 
  • In 2019, the Singapore Food Agency announced a research grant of $40 million to support the development of alternative proteins, including lab grown meat 
• criticism (Did not account for how cultural practices can influence agricultural output)

  • Fragmentation of land can influence economies of scale in agricultural production and render technologies investment unwise