The massive importance of productivity

Bryce Wilkinson writes:

Imagine two farmers, each with a plot of land. One farmer finds ways to make his land just 1% more productive each year – a bit better irrigation, a new crop rotation strategy, or a slight improvement in fertiliser use. The other farmer, content with his current methods, sees no need for change. 
 
Fast forward 20 years, and the difference between the two farms is dramatic. The innovative farmer’s land is now 22% more productive, while the passive farmer’s plot has stagnated.