Food & Dining Magazine aims to chronicle the pursuit of edibles and potables within the boundaries of the Louisville metropolitan area, but “Edibles & Potables” (the column) exists to extend our gaze outward, to the planet at large.
George Monbiot (MON-bee-oh) is a British writer known for his environmental and political activism, who is familiar to Americans primarily from his work at The Guardian, which is one of the two news sources I personally trust (along with The Economist).
As an example of Monbiot’s writing: “The Cruel Fantasies of Well-Fed People.” It’s a deep and provocative read, one difficult to blithely summarize, although here’s an attempt: How do we (i.e., the well-fed) square “authenticity” in the production of food with the reality of feeding eight billion people?
The romantic story of how food “should” be produced is entirely qualitative. It’s an aesthetic reverie. It’s about pictures, poetry, gut feeling – understandable when it comes to food but, literally, lethal when it comes to ensuring everyone has it. It is the great indulgence of those who never miss a meal to celebrate the times and modes in which people missed plenty.
Monbiot concludes: “There are no perfect solutions in an imperfect world.” For more, take note that we’ve been here before.
Edibles & Potables: How do we feed the world without devouring the planet?
