“Few people can talk of a globally broken food system, of the urgent need
for a global food transformation, of the fact that food alone can
destabilise the planet, without getting trapped in a dystopian future. Even
if efforts are made to list solutions. Why? Because it is a rare gift to
stand solidly rooted in both the evidence of catastrophic risks and the
empirical evidence of scalable solutions for health, resilience and equity.
Amir and Laila Kassam manage to be stewards of both, a result of their own
wealth of knowledge and experience, and the incredible group of assembled
co-authors. A book to guide our future on Earth.”
- Professor Johan Rockström, Professor of Earth System Science at University
of Potsdam, and Director Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research
“All life on this planet is in danger. One important part of the solution is
thinking urgently about how we produce and consume food. This new book is a
hugely welcome, timely and eye-opening contribution to help shape the
thinking and actions needed to really make a difference. Education plays
such an important role in bringing about real change; this wonderful new
book will be a hugely rich resource.”
- Professor Joy Carter CBE DL Cgeol FGS, Vice-Chancellor, University of
Winchester, UK
“An absolute powerhouse! Cogent and compelling, Rethinking Food and
Agriculture is transcendent in synthesizing broad and seemingly discrete
aspects of the global food system to create a foundation for positive,
structural change. Insights and nuances abound in this paradigm-shifting
collection that uniquely and urgently insists on the inescapable
interconnectedness of human, nonhuman, and planetary wellbeing, and then
culminates with the much-needed concept of “inclusive responsibility.” I
found myself energized (even a bit awestruck) by the depth and breadth of
Amir and Laila Kassam’s research and the top notch experts they assembled.
This book is a true treasure and a new addition to my favorites list.”
- Dawn Moncrief, Founder and President of A Well-Fed World
“Many people are now rethinking where their food comes from. From the
standpoint of human health, the welfare of animals, or environmental health,
current systems could not be worse, and this book is the very welcome light
at the end of the tunnel. Rethinking Food and Agriculture: New Ways Forward
takes an optimistic and practical approach to fixing a system gone awry. I
heartily recommend it.”
- Neal D. Barnard, MD, FACC, President, Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine, Washington, DC
“Our planet is in peril, along with the collective future of ourselves and
many other species. Modern agriculture, especially animal agriculture – with
its vast use of land, water, fossil fuels, pesticides, herbicides, and
greenhouse gas production – bears much of the blame. If we are to have any
hope of a future in a clean, green world, enriched by other many living
species, we really have to change. Comprehensively researched, and clearly
written, Rethinking Food and Agriculture describes both the causes of our
current planetary predicament, and provides a clear pathway out of it –
should we choose to take it. This highly recommended book should be required
reading for all interested in a viable future for our planet.”
- Andrew Knight, MANZCVS, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), DipACAW, PhD, FRCVS, PFHEA,
Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, & Founding Director, Centre for
Animal Welfare, University of Winchester, UK, Adjunct Professor, School of
Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
Prof. Amir Kassam OBE, FRSB, PhD is Visiting Professor in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, UK, where he teaches Agriculture and Development. He is the Moderator of the FAO-hosted Global Platform for Conservation Agriculture Community of Practice (CA-CoP) and Chairman of the International Conservation Agriculture Advisory Panel for Africa. Born in Tanzania, Amir has a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture and PhD in Agroecology (University of Reading), and MSc in Irrigation (University of California-Davis). Amir is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (UK). He has published widely. In 2005, Amir was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Honours List for services to tropical agriculture and to rural development. Amir’s former positions include: Deputy Director General (Programme) at the Africa Rice Centre, CGIAR; Interim Executive Secretary of the CGIAR Science Council; and Chairman of the: Aga Khan Foundation (UK); Focus Humanitarian Assistance Europe Foundation; and Tropical Agriculture Association, UK.
Laila Kassam, PhD is a development economist and has worked in the international development sector since 2003. She has worked with NGOs, foundations, government ministries and international research and development institutions (including the CGIAR and FAO) focusing on rural development in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Laila is co-founder and Mission Lead of Animal Think Tank, UK. She currently works on issues related to agroecology, sustainability, food system transformation, and animal, climate and social justice. Laila Kassam has a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Politics (University of Bristol), an MSc in Development Management (London School of Economics and Political Science) and a PhD in Development Economics (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London). Laila’s previous positions include: Programme Associate for Rural Development for the Aga Khan Foundation (Geneva); Research Officer for the DFID funded Coastal Rural Support Programme (Kenya); and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Fellow at the Ministry of Agriculture (Guyana).
Also read: Inclusive Responsibility
Read excerpts: 'Towards Holistic Paradigms and Mindsets' and 'Towards Diets Which Promote Human and Planetary Health'
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