Geographies of Food and Power

Geographies of Food and Power is a comprehensive textbook that provides an intersectional approach to the production and consumption of food, focusing on inequality, uneven production, and legacies of colonialism. It covers topics such as food systems, agricultural development, major commodities, contemporary challenges, and emerging trends, and is suitable for undergraduate classrooms in human geography, environmental geography, economic geography, food studies, and development.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive textbook offers a thorough examination of the production and consumption of food, making it an ideal resource for undergraduate classrooms at the intermediate or advanced level. By adopting an intersectional approach to difference and power, the book delves into conventional subjects within the geography of food, offering a fresh perspective that emphasizes inequality, uneven production, and the legacies of colonialism. Moreover, the book sheds light on places and regions that are often overlooked in conventional narratives, such as the Americas' role in the domestication of plants. The textbook encompasses a wide range of topics, including:

Descriptions and analyses of food systems: This section provides an in-depth exploration of the various components and processes involved in food production, distribution, and consumption. It examines the structures, institutions, and actors that shape food systems and explores the social, economic, and environmental implications of these systems.

Histories of agricultural development: The book traces the historical development of agriculture, focusing on the roles of different regions and countries in shaping agricultural practices and technologies. It explores the factors that have contributed to agricultural growth, decline, and transformation, as well as the impact of these changes on food systems and society.

Major commodities such as meat, grains, and produce: This section examines the production, distribution, and consumption of key food commodities, including meat, grains, and produce. It explores the factors that determine the location and scale of food production, the economic and political factors that influence commodity prices, and the environmental and social impacts of different agricultural practices.

Contemporary challenges in the food system: The book addresses a range of contemporary challenges facing the food system, including labor, disasters/conflict, and climate change. It explores the social, economic, and environmental implications of these challenges and examines the strategies and policies that are being implemented to address them.

Recent and emerging trends in food and agriculture: This section explores the latest developments and trends in food and agriculture, such as the rise of lab-grown meat and vertical urban farms. It examines the technological, economic, and social factors that are driving these trends and their potential impacts on food systems and society.

Geographies of Food and Power adopts a synthetic approach by discussing food as something produced within an interconnected system. It recognizes that labor, food quality, and the environment are interrelated and must be considered together in order to understand the complex dynamics of food production and consumption. The book is a valuable resource for students studying human geography, environmental geography, economic geography, food studies, and development. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the food system, enabling students to critically analyze and address the challenges and opportunities that arise in this critical sector.

Weight: 422g
Dimension: 172 x 246 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367747664