Food for Thought: Julian Baggini's ‘How the World Eats’

Abstract

The need for a better understanding of how we feed ourselves has never been more important as we are facing a potential existential crisis. Julian Baggini forensically examines the best and worst food practices across a number of different societies. Both historically and contemporaneously as he reviews the complexities of the global food system and illuminates the different approaches to growing, preparing and eating food around the world.

He takes a look at the latest cutting edge technology such as new farming methods, cultured meat, GM and the contentious subject of ultra-processed food in the context of its social and cultural impact.

Baggini advocates that every well informed citizen should know the basics about how food is grown, reared, processed, traded and controlled. To enable them to make an informed choice, Baggini contends that the food system has never been in a more fragile state. He asserts the necessity of a global food philosophy to guide us in addressing and mending our fractured food system.

How we live is deeply influenced by how we eat, a concept Baggini explores through a fascinating journey that begins with the world of hunter-gatherers. Tracing the development of agriculture from its origins around 11,000 years ago to its modern intensification, he skilfully examines how food is ultimately derived from the land, sea, rivers, lakes, plants, and animals. However, he highlights that the food system itself is shaped by people, politics, and business. With keen attention to detail, he delves into the effectiveness of food governance, the challenges of food wastage and loss, and the profound impacts of commodification.

Baggini dissects natural selection and breeding by humans and ultimately GM and gene editing. He concludes that the will for change and the possibilities for change can converge, join forces and transform how the world eats for the better.