= Hive Worlds and recycling technology =

I never doubted you for a second, indeed I seem to recall that quote as the reason. The standard image of hives is necromunda, but thats only because they had a game called necromunda and that was the type of hive they chose to represent. I think a continent spanning hive is just as cool. But might I suggest that you would only actually need a tiny fraction of that to house the whole population, and that much of it could be given over to vast hydroponic bays, so large you wouldn't be able to see the other side, and releasing enough water vapour to create their own weather .

Generally I cannot see on what you’re point at, Philip… no one doubted that hives has both hydroponics and recycling. However, at the same time they import huge amounts of food. All these facts were presented in WD 100-105, where the zero edition of Necromunda appeared. My calculations of grain imports by hive was based partially on its data, including clear mention that high class prefers off world food, while downhives have to consume food recycled 23 times, which deemed non-eatable even by hivers. Hydroponics also depicted in Watson’s Space Marine.
So?

Where you objecting or agreeing then Zholud

I was just stating that there is no new information. The point behind the thread I guess is Philips STC-Hive. While it has its merits, as well as most other ideas of this honoured member of our community, it goes too extreme. If 40k is well-known for exaggerations, Philips versions sometimes make it looking too sane and close to reality.
I guess no one disagreed that Hiveworlds use recycling and hydroponics. However it does not mean that their recycling is infinite and hydroponics allows for food exports. Even if a hive is theoretically able to feed itself, one worker in this sphere is one less worker elsewhere, where his added value is higher. Thus Hiveworlds chiefly import food and export manufacture.