Book Review

The End of Food. Roberts, P. (2008). New York, New York: Mariner Books.
The End of Food is an eye-opening investigation into the modern food system. Divided into three parts, it is a thorough expose into everything we neglect to think about when we think about food. From the early hunting and gathering to genetically modified food, Paul Roberts explores it all.

Part I – The Past

The first part of the book provides a historical view or how the modern industrial food system got to where it is today. It takes the reader through how early man sought out food. Initially, plants provided the calories necessary to survive. Man was able to gather plants to feed his family. Soon, man discovered that animals also provided calories and the calories when more dense providing more energy. Hence, further ensuring the survival of man. This survival allowed the population to grow and the need for more food to grow as well. A way to feed more people lent to the development and expansion of farms. Here, plants and animals were produced on a larger scale to feed more people.

Part II – The Present

This part of the book takes a look at where we are today as a result of the industrialization of the food system. Food production, as part of an ever-decreasing margin industry, had gone global. Food is grown and sourced based on lowest cost. However, this drive to produce for the lowest dollar also brings about serious problems. Impacts on health, soil and water; as well as increasing energy costs all result from the industrial food machine. In addition, this explosion of production still fails to provide food for those that continue to experience hunger in the world.

Part III – The Future

The last part of the book explores the great hurdle in fixing the food system. Today in a world with transgenic/genetically modified food, we don’t know the impact of how we will be affected in the future.

Conclusion

This was a great book and I was not able to put it down. Roberts really dug into what is going on with our food. He provided in-depth information that really made me want to learn more and tell others. After reading, I watched many of his talks and became actively interested in the state of our current food system.