How to feed the planet

How can we feed a growing global population without destroying the planet's ecosystem?

The renowned scientist Vaclav Smil offers a sober, fact-based look at global food systems. He shows that while the world produces enough calories, it fails to distribute them effectively and limit waste. He examines the impacts of livestock production, the limits of organic farming, the role of biotechnology and the importance of photosynthesis. Instead of ideological solutions, he proposes gradual, scientifically-grounded steps. This book is for anyone who wants to understand the food reality of today's world—without simplification and with a vision for the future.

Should we be worried about the global food system? Do we live in a place that will be plagued by famine in the coming decades? Will society collapse? The short answer is: probably not. The fuller answer, which draws on the history of food production and the latest scientific findings and explains some key biophysical factors, is longer—about the length of this book.