Feeding Frenzy : The New Politics of Food

This subject is as big as they come: the world's food supply. Written for a popular audience, Feeding Frenzy traces the history of the global food system and reveals the underlying causes of recent food shortages and price spikes - what the media has labelled a 'world food crisis'. As the tectonic plates of the world food system shift, forces are being unleashed that threaten the security of billions. Food-producing countries are banning exports to benefit their own citizens, even if this means that other countries starve. Most worryingly, they are acquiring huge areas of under-utilised farmland in poorest countries to grow crops for export, often at the expense of local communities. Some of the trends identified in this book are unstoppable. But McMahon also outlines actions that can be taken to lower the risks of conflict and to produce fairer outcomes. It is possible to envisage a more benign scenario, associated with a shift to a sustainable and productive form of agriculture. Which path will the world choose? Feeding Frenzy Traces The History Of The Global Food System And Reveals The Underlying Causes Of Recent Turmoil In Food Markets. Supplies Are Running Short, Prices Keep Spiking And The Media Is Full Of Talk Of A 'world Food Crisis'. Food-producing Countries Are Banning Exports Even If This Means Starving Their Neighbours. Governments And Corporations Are Scrambling To Secure Control Over Food Supply Chains. Powerful Groups From The Middle East And Asia Are Grabbing Farmland In Poor Countries To Grow Food For Export. This Raises Some Big Questions. Can We Feed A Population That Will Grow To Nine Billion By 2050? Are We Running Out Of Land And Water? Can We Rely On Free Markets To Provide? This Book Reveals Trends That Could Lead To More Hunger And Conflict. But Paul Mcmahon Also Outlines Actions That Can Be Taken To Shape A Sustainable And Just Food System. 1. A Brief History Of Food. -- 2. On The Brink. -- 3. The World Food Crisis. -- 4. Was Malthus Right? -- 5. This Time Is Different. -- 6. Starve Thy Neighbour. -- 7. Trading In The Wind. -- 8. Stirring The Alphabet Soup. -- 9. Land Grabs. -- 10. How This Story Might End. -- 11. Better Ways To Feed The World. Paul Mcmahon. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 'Feeding Frenzy' traces the history of the global food system and reveals the underlying causes of recent food shortages and price spikes - what the media has labelled a 'world food crisis'. This subject is as big as they come: the world's food supply.Written for a popular audience, Feeding Frenzy traces the history of the global food system and reveals the underlying causes of recent food shortages and price spikes - what the media has labelled a 'world food crisis'. As the tectonic plates of the world food system shift, forces are being unleashed that threaten the security of billions. Food-producing countries are banning exports to benefit their own citizens, even if this means that other countries starve. Most worryingly, they are acquiring huge areas of under-utilised farmland in poorest countries to grow crops for export, often at the expense of local communities. Some of the trends identified in this book are unstoppable. But McMahon also outlines actions that can be taken to lower the risks of conflict and to produce fairer outcomes. It is possible to envisage a more benign scenario, associated with a shift to a sustainable and productive form of agriculture. Which path will the world choose? "Feeding Frenzy traces the history of the global food system and reveals the underlying causes of recent turmoil in food markets. Supplies are running short, prices keep spiking and the media is full of talk of a 'world food crisis'. Food-producing countries are banning exports even if this means starving their neighbours. Governments and corporations are scrambling to secure control over food supply chains. Powerful groups from the Middle East and Asia are grabbing farmland in poor countries to grow food for export. This raises some big questions. Can we feed a population that will grow to nine billion by 2050? Are we running out of land and water? Can we rely on free markets to provide? This book reveals trends that could lead to more hunger and conflict. But Paul McMahon also outlines actions that can be taken to shape a sustainable and just food system"--Provided by publisher Can the world feed itself? This book traces the history of the global food system and reveals the underlying causes of recent food shortages and price spikes what the media has labelled a 'world food crisis'. It outlines actions that can be taken to lower the risks of conflict and to produce faire outcomes. As the tectonic plates of the world food system shift, forces are being unleashed that threaten the security of billions. This book traces the history of the global food system and reveals the underlying causes of food shortages and price spikes - what the media has labelled a 'world food crisis'.