Micronutrient Availability in Alternative Foods During Agricultural Catastrophes
- D. C. Denkenberger, J. M. Pearce
Summary
Denkenberger and Pearce explore vitamin availability in alternate food scenarios that could arise after sun-blocking catastrophes, such as asteroid impacts or nuclear winter. They compare the vitamin content of various alternative foods to recommended dietary allowances, finding that no single food source can provide all necessary vitamins, and propose solutions such as chemical synthesis and bacteria cultivation to prevent deficiencies.
Abstract
Several catastrophes could block the sun, including asteroid/comet impact, super volcanic eruption, and nuclear war with the burning of cities (nuclear winter). Previous work has analyzed alternate food supplies (e.g., mushrooms growing on dead trees, bacteria growing on natural gas). This was shown to be technically capable of feeding everyone with macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and lipids) and minerals, although economics and politics remain uncertain. The present work analyzes vitamin availability in such alternative food scenarios. The vitamin content of various alternate foods is compared to the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) as well as the average requirement defined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and insufficiencies of single food sources are discussed. Single alternate food sources are always deficient in some vitamins, and the problems associated with this are discussed. To prevent disease in an alternative food scenario a wide range of foods must be consumed, or the diet must be supplemented. Backup plans discussed include chemical synthesis of vitamins, plants grown with artificial light and growing bacteria rich in certain vitamins. Finally, insights from this analysis are provided for combating existing micronutritional deficiencies using alternative foods today.