Diversity

Mono cultures are dangerous. In the 21st century creating uniformity and eliminating diversity become increasingly powerful. But diversity and complexity are always healthier and more interesting – in chickens, corn, people and in ideas. Take for example commercial farming operations, which can not really be farms but rather factories that produce a product. They raise one crop of corn, one crop of apples all apple trees are merely straight sticks in the ground and pruned heavily so that a tractor can drive over them and shake the apples off. Chickens in little cages often have their beaks trimmed, claws clipped and features shaved and become nothing more than factory assembly lines. In this century we have seen the science of agriculture moving in the direction of eliminating diversity. The uniformity of the crop simplified the design and operation of harvesting equipment as well of course the industrial processing of agricultural products as they were manufactured in to foods and other goods.Consider the old Mexican who saves his corn for next years season. As some varieties will flourish one year others will be produce nothing. Or one crop will be more disease resistant than another. Therefore, creating a diverse crop of wheat is more resistant to disease than a uniform monoculture.