Enriching the Earth: Fritz Haber, Carl Bosch, and the Transformation of World Food Production
Haber-Bosch process enabled feeding approximately 40% of world population
This definitive history explains how the Haber-Bosch process for converting atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia enabled 20th century population growth by providing synthetic fertilizer. The book demonstrates how a single technological innovation fundamentally altered global nutrient cycling, with both massive benefits (feeding billions) and costs (environmental disruption).
For business strategists, the Haber-Bosch story illustrates how breakthrough technologies can disrupt natural cycles, create dependencies, and generate externalities that only become apparent decades later. Understanding this history informs decisions about technological interventions in circular systems.
Key Findings from Smil (2001)
- Haber-Bosch process enabled feeding approximately 40% of world population
- Synthetic nitrogen fundamentally changed agriculture from nutrient-limited to energy-limited
- The process requires enormous energy inputs, typically from fossil fuels
- Long-term consequences include soil degradation and aquatic dead zones