• Lord Wiggle@lemmy.world
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    30 days ago

    During WW1 he killed millions by developing chlorine gas, among other poisoness gasses, but he saves billions by discovering how to synthesize fertilizer. Without that discovery, most of the world population would have died from starvation, if not all.

    • ryedaft@sh.itjust.works
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      30 days ago

      Fossil fuel based fertilizer has also contributed to global inequality - synthetic fertilizer is 3-4 times cheaper in Europe than Africa.

      And the cheapness of nitrogen fertilizer has led to massive problems with too much fertilizer ending up in the ocean, sparking algae blooms and subsequent oxygen starvation. Just look at the Baltic Sea.

      • Lord Wiggle@lemmy.world
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        30 days ago

        Yeah but who cares about Africa and climate, rich white people have stocked up supermarkets with products from around the world. Like New Zealand wine next to Chile wine in stores in France. Like… Ok… Australian mineral water in the Netherlands… With the highest quality tap water ever…

      • feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world
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        29 days ago

        atmospheric nitrogen is a fossil fuel
        the fertiliser made itself more expensive in africa

        run-off is a huge problem, though