The Atlas of Food - Who Eats What, Where and Why

This is an indispensable and authoritative guide, arguably the best single book on the subject and hence one that every reader of this Review should have. Beautifully illustrated and clearly structured, the book begins with an analysis of contemporary challenges - population, environmental issues, water scarcity, under- and over-nutrition, and the politics of food aid. The other parts deal with types of farming, trade, processing, retailing and consumption. The farming section is comprehensive, including historical and contemporary aspects - animal feed, mechanisation, genetic modification, pesticides and aquaculture. The trade section is perhaps the most eye-opening for the general reader in clearly explaining the notion of food miles, considering the implications of animal transport and the role of subsidies and tariffs. However, the processing issues are also crucial, especially in view of increasing concentration of market power with fewer giant companies like Cargill and the sheer amount of money ($40 bn annually) spent by the food industry on advertising mostly processed products. Ultimately a proper relationship between food and health will reassert itself and this book is a vital pointer.