considering what we know about energy flow and ecosystems

[youngscientist]

considering the knowledge we have today about energy flow and agriculture we should be able create a very efficient system of energy flow (plant food->animal food). if you could design the perfect system what would it look like?

[canalon]

Before we answr your homework, what if you suggested your own answers? That would give a good start for the discussion don't you think?

[Schröder]

Well unfortunately, the amount of energy we humans are able to exploit is reduced by less that one-tenth. Because as you know the further up we go in the energy flow diagram...the less energy available. And any energy we can derive from plants is locked.

[mith]

You need to define a parameter for "perfect system." Is it one which produces the most biomass? The one that produces the most meat? The one that grows the fastest?

[AstusAleator]

Why develop the perfect system when you can just rely on fossil fuels to make up for the loss in energy?

Anyway, some of the more "efficient" systems I've heard of are hydroponics. If one wants to truly be efficient, they will need to develop a way of recycling the nutrients back into the system, rather than supplementing them via fertilizers.
This really isn't feasible on large industrial scales.
The most "efficient" systems, as far as energy to the consumer vs energy input, are small manual labor operations that don't use fertilizers or pesticides, and do not mono-crop.

[mith]

not very labor efficient though lol

[sachin]

I remembered LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS.

Perpetual motion machine and No energy lose; sound good but not posible till.