Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them

We might be too ignorant about what we thought we knew — the book raise the questions to re-evaluate the “development” human beings are proud of.

Me parece que se muestra de manera clara y amena la importancia de la diversidad genética que han domesticado, conservado y mejorado, a este de las grandes empresas capitalistas, las mujeres y hombres campesinos del mundo. Es un libro de lectura obligatoria ahora que enfrentamos el reto del cambio climático y la pérdida de biodiversidad.

Although the situation is dire, this is not another apocalyptic book. The homogenization of humankind’s diet makes as vulnerable in so many ways, which are clearly explained throughout Saladino’s book. However, what makes this a fascinating read are the characters engaged in saving diversity and their stories beautifully documented by the author. This is at once a pedagogical book, enlightening us through facts on the history and perils of how and what we consume, and an activist’s manifesto proposing a way forward, without preaching undertones or lecturing airs. It is also a fascinating compilation and exploration of food, from grains, plants, and sea and land creatures, to wine coffee, and chocolate, all rooted in their local environments, showcasing the vastness of geographical and cultural diversity. A highly recommendable read.

I saw this reviewed in The Times… it deals with the short sightedness, even lunacy of food production over the last 6-7 decades. Some of it was possibly well intentioned to feed the burgeoning world population… but so much just to make the big food and chemical companies richer - and us poorer! The book deals with the way the thousands of ancient varieties of foodstuffs have been lost because they weren’t seen as commercially viable - but the world system of food production from Communist China to India, Africa and the EU is genetically so threatening to our survival that it is beyond stupid. He looks at the main food sources we rely on from grain to cow’s milk and meat to pulses etc. The ancient strains had survived and adapted to survive so many diseases, fungal or airborne as well as changing climate and insect attacks, poor soil, wet lands etc. This has all been sacrificed for convenience - and profit - putting the entire world at risk of famine, starvation and all that that entails. Not only are these ancient crops and breeds becoming extinct… but the indigenous people who cultivated them and understood their importance to the world food chain are also being driven from their lands - and so vital knowledge is being lost. For me one of the most horrendous innovations are the blind chickens he talks about .. a mistake in the genetic engineering but useful for profit as they can no longer see to peck each other! I have kept a small flock of chickens for 15 years and they are such amusing and observant birds, seeing bugs where we just see grass of wood… so the cruelty of continuing to raise them totally blind just for extra profit is the absolute pits of human behaviour posturing as world savers!! The book is very well researched with 70 pages of notes at the back and written with a simplicity and passion that just draws you along. Happily, Saladino is not all about doom… he says there is hope … that even some of the top CEO s of international companies are beginning to see the looming catastrophe if we don’t change our farming habits … but t also there are movements afoot to try and turn round this genetic savagery and look to our ancestors’ wisdom and food production to help us survive , and even thrive. If your interested in this beautiful planet of ours and our continued existence upon it, this book will open your eyes … and your heart.

Veloce e perfettamente nei tempi libro stupendo