These are frightening figures, and figures on which there has been little or no serious focus. It is a pity really that Montgomery didn't write a book that focused more on these - the historical stuff is fascinating and curious, but that previous civilisations fell because they degraded the land on which they depend is widely known and not generally controversial.
That our potential to provide the food a growing world population needs is in question is not widely known, and no doubt will be challenged by those who believe science can do miracles.The evidence he provides here should be more widely read than it is likely to be in a "history book".
Article comments
1 - Victor Plenty
"not so much farming as mining" -- what an apt description for many of the methods used to produce so much of our food supply today. I'm surprised nobody else has commented on your review, Natalie. Is anything more universal than the human need for food?
We have only just begun to scratch the surface (quite literally) of the miraculous processes that convert bare ground into things we can use for food. Still, the outlines of a better way are being discovered by pioneers in permaculture, organic farming, and other sustainable practices.
If we continue to treat the soil like a mine, sooner or later the mine will play out. If we learn to nurture the soil as a living system, we can ensure a healthy food supply for future generations.
2 - James Sinnamon
(This has been cross-posted to Philobiblion)
Great book!
I thoroughly endorse it.
My only reservation is that David Montgomery is a bit more optimistic about our prospects for being able to fix up our global agricultural system than others, for example Canadian soil biologist, Peter Salonius Peter Salonius, who believes that our soils are so degraded that the world’s soils may only be able to sustain hundreds of millions of humans rather than billions of humans once the artificial boost to soil productivity made possible with fossil-fuel-dervied fertilisers is no longer available.
If Peter Salonius is right, then we are in deep trouble. Of course, I hope he is wrong and that David Montgomery is right.