[Southern California Permaculture] NEW BOOK The Future of Food and Agriculture David A. Cleveland (Author)

[Margie Bushman, Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

NEW BOOK The Future of Food and Agriculture
David A. Cleveland (Author)
<http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucpress.edu%2Fbook.php%3Fisbn%3D9780520277427&h=fAQHo8pJE&enc=AZPhyw3mntHGCugsEBgpzEzgrXMUj6L_CNuhN7wiuW29K5Gcqvk0MfBJdIHHc_kzS8GfTksnFYcDG-34hNZvQwb2NvSNKbcLANKNZzXR0_2w_mzAc5uUcgN4r4Z3tHmxEfNDrfBk_SOKIW8NxHh96LFjeyZpamgp57tZtdg7aSAEZg&s=1>http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=<http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucpress.edu%2Fbook.php%3Fisbn%3D9780520277427&h=fAQHo8pJE&enc=AZPhyw3mntHGCugsEBgpzEzgrXMUj6L_CNuhN7wiuW29K5Gcqvk0MfBJdIHHc_kzS8GfTksnFYcDG-34hNZvQwb2NvSNKbcLANKNZzXR0_2w_mzAc5uUcgN4r4Z3tHmxEfNDrfBk_SOKIW8NxHh96LFjeyZpamgp57tZtdg7aSAEZg&s=1>9780520277427

This book is an interdisciplinary primer on 
critical thinking and effective action for the 
future of our global agrifood system, based on an 
understanding of the system’s biological and 
sociocultural roots. Key components of the book 
are a thorough analysis of the assumptions 
underlying different perspectives on problems 
related to food and agriculture around the world 
and a discussion of alternative solutions. David 
Cleveland argues that combining selected aspects 
of small-scale traditional agriculture with 
modern scientific agriculture can help balance 
our biological need for food with its 
environmental impact­and continue to fulfill 
cultural, social, and psychological needs related to food.

Balancing on a Planet is based on Cleveland’s 
research and engaging teaching about food and 
agriculture for more than three decades. It is a 
tool to help students, faculty, researchers, and 
interested readers understand debates about the 
current crisis and alternatives for the future.

.
Why Local Foods? What Foods Are Planet Friendly?
                   Report of UCSB Lecture by Judy Sims
UCSB environmental studies professor, David A. 
Cleveland, presented a Nov. 18, 2014, inaugural 
talk based on his research and book, Balancing on 
a Planet.  The event, sponsored by UCS's Office 
of the Executive Vice Chancellor and the 
Interdisciplinary Humanities Center, was 
an  Anthropocene” series presentation­lookinng 
at the present geological epoch, during which 
human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.

Dr. Cleveland's talk targeted the question, Can 
local food improve health, increase equity, and 
slow global warming?  Can local food serve local 
needs in today's economy?   What are solutions to 
the global food system problems, considering that 
climate change affects the most hungry, who are 
also the most vulnerable--not having resources to adapt to climate change?
There are two big challenges:  1) rate of growth 
of human population; 2) lack of appropriate 
indicators for identifying high-impact reasons 
for the problem­e.g. food miles is not a 
significant indicator.  Dr. Cleveland addressed 
solutions that include decreasing consumption, 
and in particular, diet change, pointing out 
that, The foods that are good for people are good 
for the planet. This translates into no red meat, 
lots of vegetables and whole grains, resulting in 
significant decreases in disease, health care, and lowering green house gases.

What does it take for people to change diet 
patterns?  Providing information is not the 
answer­people are generally very 
conservative.  Convenience and habit are basic 
indicators. Peer group action based on changed 
values can successfully motivate collective 
action.  Dr. Cleveland referenced several 
examples in history where eating choices have 
become social statements, such as in the documentary film,"Cesar's Last Fast."

How do we control our food system?  Dr. Cleveland 
pointed out the importance of understanding the 
whole life cycle as well as the global 
perspective in order to make decisions about food 
choices. There are limits.   We have to change 
our demand.  The challenge is to get people to 
see climate change as personal.  We need to 
understand and deal with ways that food 
corporations are swaying our food choices­we need a social purpose.
(Note:  a signed copy of Professor David 
Cleveland's book, Balancing on a Planet, is 
available for loan from Trinity Gardens.)



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