Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food

This is a sophisticated but eminently readable analysis of the existential problems that now bedevil farmers in both the US and developing countries, while simultaneously despoiling the environment. Wise's critique rests upon extensive first-hand research in rural parts of Africa, Mexico, India -- and Iowa. With tremendous journalistic flair, he brings to life his searching conversations with farmers, coop leaders, government officials and NGO leaders. Ultimately, he targets the U.S. industrial agricultural system as the major source of the problems he dissects -- highlighting the many disconnects between on-the-ground needs and realities, blind faith in technology, and corporate-driven U.S.agricultural policy. If you care about the world's ability to feed itself in coming decades, and think you know something about the issues involved, read this book. You will learn things, literally from the ground up, that give the lie to what we have been led to believe by Monsanto, Syngenta, and allied public officials. A tour de force.

Eating tomorrow is the best book I have read in a very long time. Like so many others, I too care about the fate of the earth. More importantly, I want to do something about it! In this very readable text, Tim Wise helps us to understand the centrality of food in shaping a world where we can all live and eat together. He does this by taking the reader around the world to visit farmers, agricultural program administrators, and government policy makers. As a reader, I heard all the voices that need to be at the table of social change. Unfortunately, these groups are not assembled together, nor do they carry equal weight in decisions about how to save the planet from hunger and climate change. As a result, we see that the current formula for “eating today” is actually a recipe for increased starvation tomorrow. Nevertheless, Tim introduces us to brilliant people, from Iowa to Malawi, who are equipped to lead the change in agriculture that the planet desperately needs. They are small farmers, teachers and agricultural activists committed to traditional practices of diverse cropping and soil protection. If the reader has any doubt about the real leaders in our troubled times, Eating Tomorrow makes a compelling case to put the future of food in the hands of those at the grassroots who know how to deliver our food for tomorrow.

Wise conveys a captivating narrative about the complexities of our food industry and the vital role of small farmers in combating climate change while growing more than 70% of the food grown in developing countries. Underscored by research spanning a wide array of countries, Eating Tomorrow reveals an eye-opening view of agribusiness that will inspire you to take a closer look at your own values surrounding food culture and how your own practices can make a difference in battling hunger.

Timothy Wise has written a cogent, insightful, and witty introduction to agribusiness in the 21st century. Eating Tomorrow is a must-read for those who hope to, indeed, eat tomorrow (and in the days after that). Highly recommend for college students, activists, and those who want to assess 2020 presidential campaign platforms. I expect to see Wise's book on "Best of" lists at the end of the year.

The content is not well organized. Seems forced. Reading for a class project made keeping up with time lines of governmental changes, key participants and events almost impossible. The book is a reflection of the author's personal accounts, reflections, conversations peppered in with some references.

A paradigm-shifting explosion of a book that argues that small farmers around the world are the true agents of change and adaptation to the climate catastrophe we now face. Very well-written and deeply researched, this is a book that will change the debate on the future of world food production.

Inquietante pero esperanzador

With the deafening chorus of cheers for unlimited technological (gmo) growth and deregulation in global agribusiness (Monsanto), Wise gives voice instead to the otherwise muffled majority of farmers successfully employing sustainable and effective methods of food production. This is a great resource providing insight into truly viable alternatives for coping with the socio-economic and climatic challenges threatening our collective future sustenance.