Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food - Couverture souple

Weasel, Lisa H.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0814436404 ISBN 13 : 9780814436400

Editeur : Amacom, 2008

Synopsis

When famine struck Africa in 2002, several nations refused shipments of genetically modified foods, fueling a controversy that put the issue on the world's political agenda for good. In this thought-provoking exploration, esteemed molecular biologist Dr. Lisa H. Weasel brings readers into the center of this debate, capturing the real-life experiences of the scientists, farmers, policymakers, and grassroots activists on the front lines. Combining solid scientific knowledge and a gripping narrative to tell the real story behind the headlines and the hype, Food Fray approaches the topic of genetically-modified foods from an intimate, insider perspective so readers can draw their own conclusions about the validity of the opposing arguments and the safety of consuming these foods in their homes. Since the beginning, Americans have openly embraced the new genetically modified foods filling their grocery shelves while Europeans have remained much warier of these “Frankenfoods.” Seminal and cutting-edge, Food Fray enlightens and informs readers with “food for thought” about one of the most important issues facing us today.

A propos du livre

Quatrième de couverture

Heralded as both the quick, painless solution to solving world hunger and the scourge of modern science—a dangerous tampering with nature and the decimation of traditional crops and communities—genetically modified foods have triggered volatile debates and deeply contradictory dialogues the world over.

Food Fray cuts through the complex science, boiling passions, and ethical dilemmas to provide an impressive history of every significant development in the GM food story, as well as an even-handed assessment of both its potential benefits and negative consequences. Meticulously researched, yet lively and entertaining, the author travels the globe to gather the perspectives of scientists, activists, consumers, government officials, and others, as she uncovers possible answers to difficult questions:

• Do GM crops encourage a dangerous dependence on bioengineered seeds, chemical fertilizers, and toxic pesticides? Or can they solve the food scarcity problems that plague mankind?

• Will the world’s major staple crops be controlled by a handful of countries and corporations? Or could the increased income that GM yields bring to small farmers provide the key to the prosperity of poor nations?

• Will this promising science, played out against a landscape of growing consumer fear, shoddy corporate practices, and loose government regulation, ultimately be squashed? Or will biotechnology continue to develop in ways that ensure the health and prosperity of many—not just the profits of a few?

 

Advance Praise for Food Fray

 

“In a book brimming with insight, Lisa Weasel brings a truly global perspective, informed by on-the-ground research, to one of the most crucial ethical and environmental issues of our time. For anyone concerned about food security, global justice, and human health, Food Fray is indispensable.”

–       Dr. Gregory Hill, President, Institute for Culture and Ecology

 

“In Food Fray, Lisa Weasel offers a compelling and balanced account of the battles over genetically modified food. It arrives just as the world is refocusing on the issue of hunger. Questioning the role of GM food as a silver bullet, she offers a nuanced and cautionary tale that should be heeded as this agricultural technology roars ahead.” 

 

    – Samuel Fromartz, author of Organic, Inc.: Natural Foods and How They Grew

 

Présentation de l'éditeur

More than ten years ago, the first genetically modified foods took their place on the shelves of American supermarkets. But while American consumers remained blissfully unconcerned with the new products that suddenly filled their kitchens, Europeans were much more wary of these “Frankenfoods.” When famine struck Africa in 2002, several nations refused shipments of genetically modified foods, fueling a controversy that put the issue on the world's political agenda for good.

In Food Fray, esteemed molecular biologist Dr. Lisa H. Weasel brings readers into the center of this debate, capturing the real-life experiences of the scientists, farmers, policymakers and grassroots activists on the front lines. Here she combines solid scientific knowledge and a gripping narrative to tell the real story behind the headlines and the hype. Seminal and cutting-edge, Food Fray enlightens and informs and will allow readers to make up their own minds about one of the most important issues facing us today.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Amacom
• Date d'édition: 2008
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0814436404
• ISBN 13: 9780814436400
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 256
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible