Eating Fossil Fuels: Oil, Food and the Coming Crisis in Agriculture

Author: Dale Allen Pfeifer

Publisher & Date of Publication: New Society Publishers 2006

ISBN 13: 978-0-86571-565-3

By: Sarah Miron

SYNOPSIS

Eating Fossil Fuels: Oil, Food and the Coming Crisis in Agriculture depicts and analyses the current global consumption crisis in relation to modern agriculture and the dependence society has upon fossil fuels. The immense surge of consumption explained in this book illustrates distressing results, including droughts, a decrease in fossil fuel availability, and food shortages. The solution expressed throughout this book is that society will need to adapt to a more responsible and sustainable consumption plan.

RELEVANCE:

Society is able to function due to the vast dependency on fossil fuels. The two life altering revolutions: industrial and green, provided an answer for the developing crisis of food shortages. However, these were based upon the requirement for a sustainable source of fuel, which is described in this book to be at its peak or decline. Agriculture constantly needs a steady source of fuel, and diesel is the most popular source of energy to drive cultivation and harvest. In the coming decade, society will experience the devastating effects of the decreasing availability of fossil fuels. In order to decrease the severity of this impact, the book reiterates that we need to adapt to sustainable methods of living. This varies from encouraging farmers to practice natural soil management techniques (no-till, cover crops, rotations) to increasing community involvement in food production (community gardens, education).

Rating (1-5 = useless to relevant) 3.5

OPINION:

This book is an excellent wake up call for society in regards to our need as a whole to realize that the consumption tendencies we have gown accustomed to are jeopardizing the success of future generations. In order to ensure generations to come have adequate access to necessities which we currently take for granted, society must be open to the possibilities of new technology. Here lies a great challenge that we as designers must answer: make sustainable lifestyles the norm. Interior Designers have the ability to shape the way people use and move throughout a space, and although this is not directly linked to agriculture, a positive outcome would still aid in the progression towards a more sustainable planet. One very interesting point in this book regarding design is that all metal and plastic items are derived from hydrocarbon. Designers need to be educated on not only the products they specify, but also how the designs they create affects our planet. Eating Fossil Fuels outlines an excellent message which is that we all need to take action now before the consequences are irreversible.

Rating (1-5 = awful to fabulous): 3