Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2015 - Science & Technology — Earth Science — Food and Agriculture

The End of Plenty is a look at how world food consumption is set to drastically outpace production.  Bourne draws on his background in agronomy and years covering science and rural issues forNational Geographic to look at how agriculture has changed over the last seventy-five years.  He explores past events, such as food crises and the Green Revolution, as well as current food demands and agricultural practices.  His examination of different strategiesfrom organic farming to aquaculture, from crop diversification to genetically modified crops, and from desert cultivation to new irrigation techniquesprovides a compelling look at how farmers are trying to adapt to the greater demand for food.  He also discusses how use of crops has changed and the additional pressure exerted on grain crops needed to feed livestock to support diets high in meat content and to produce biofuels to power vehicles.  In this important and timely book, Bourne provides not just a history lesson or an agriculture report, but a call to action for those concerned about food shortages, and he provides examples of how some have already started that fight.Summing Up: Essential. All readership levels.