As is typical in this sub, I'm accused of knowing nothing about something, probably everything. Keep in mind the issues Gwynne raises are scientifically backed and he just channels them. And the problem is not about real estate! It's about what can actually be done with said real estate and the quality of it. I understand the conditioning most economists get with the potential of any given thing and how it allows forward placement, but this should be equated how much of it can be made use of in real. There are not any better alternatives to how things are today, not without affecting availability of certain crops. That employment statistic merely reflects automation of farms. Again, that displacement created unemployment. It may have done so slowly enough that most people could adjust, but it will certainly not happen this time in other areas and we're seeing it happen.

Reality says we can't just replacing crops without it having short term effects. We're seeing this with many crops and it has risen prices. Populations can't handle sudden price changes.The markets can but society can't, not without political consequences, often for the worst, which will likely also impact the structure of the economy. Just look at Venezuela.

Replacing crops is never an easy thing and it creates violent shifts in the market. For example, my vineyard gets subsidized for producing Port wine (actually true), while my other lands get nothing for olives or fruit. If it were to change that, in just a few years, Port wine production would be lost to California or even some other exotic destination and there would be a 5 or more year period of weeding out of producers and original Port would get more scarce and more expensive. A loss to all and those five years or so would be hell to all native producers. Not to mention the country would be at a loss in terms of export deficits.