Feeding the People

Children's Literature

As the world's biggest industry, farming uses about one-third of the Earth's land area and over 70% of the world's fresh water supplies. While farming methods have improved steadily over the past 10,000 years, the changes are not always good for the natural world. We can grow more food by converting some wild lands (forests, grasslands, wetlands) into farm land, but then wild animals and plants lose their habitat. Chemicals to increase harvests and kill pests can also pollute the environment. Low-cost factory farming methods and the use of antibiotics and hormones raise questions of animal cruelty and human safety. Additives and multiple layers of packaging increase shelf life, but can cause health problems and increase pollution. Genetic modification raises hopes of feeding starving people at the same time it produces fears of health problems or negative unintended environmental consequences. And, our contemporary world produces enough food to feed everyone, but is unable to distribute the food to achieve that goal. Children are counseled on organic farming, recycling, supporting charities that make a difference, avoiding heavily-packaged foods, buying locally grown products, and trying fair trade items. The author manages to provide a balanced view of contemporary agricultural issues. Full of color photographs, the thirty-two pages include a table of contents, a glossary, fun facts, references, some simple projects, and an index. Other titles in the "Precious Earth" series include Changing Climate, Energy Crisis, Polluted Planet, Rainforests at Risk, Saving Oceans and Wetlands, Waste and Recycling, and Wildlife in Danger. 2004, Chrysalis Education/Smart Apple Media, Ages7 to 9.
—Chris Gill