Peak Food

Today David Richardson wrote in the Farmers Weekly that Famine in the West was “impressive” and  ”thoroughly researched with obvious vigour.” He also said:

“And although its academic content is excellent, it is written in language that can be readily understood by farmers and non-farmers alike.  Indeed, I strongly recommend it, especially to Gordon Brown and David Miliband, who clearly have not yet appreciated its message.

“John Gossop pulls together the host of statistics on global warming, declining oil supplies and increasing demand for food that have been released, piecemeal, over recent years.  He concludes that the world has been living on cheap energy created by photosynthesis and the power of the sun millions of years ago and that its availability and cheapness are drawing to a close.

“He believes the energy crisis will come much faster than most commentators expect and that this, combined with competition for land to produce food, will trigger famine, even in the wealthy west, within 12 to 15 years.  He despairs at the culture of denial that rules in many countries and he calls for the pending disaster to be tackled urgently on a worldwide basis.

“He cites emergency measures taken during World War II that enabled the Allies to increase the production of armaments and food that were crucial in defeating the Nazis.  He believes that the worsening crisis should be tacked on a similar war footing and start immediately.  He proposes measures that he claims would enable farmers to make significant contributions to our survival.”

 If you would like to read Famine in the West  the ebook is available at the special introductory price of £2.50 (about $4.99).  Alternatively you can order a printed version that becomes available in August, with no obligation to buy then.