Fig. 8. The role of auxiliary energy in determining the economic will-being
of a society is illustrated by these diagrams.

  • A - In an economicallly less developed country, the bulk of the population must
    be devoted to agriculture in order to support itself at a subsistence level.
  • B - In an economically more developed and industrial country, auxiliary
    energy sources "open the gate" to the more efficient utilization of the sun's
    energy, and the entire population can maintain a higher standard of living.
  • C - In the future, agriculture must be much less dependent on auxiliary energy,
    a feat that can be accomplished by making use of products formerly regarded
    as waste.
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