In an interview in Earth Island Journal, the critically acclaimed writer Raj Patel talks about the failure of the Green Revolution, the beauty of the commons, and why industrial agriculture will never be the answer to our food woes.
The author of bestsellers on food (Stuffed and Starved) and economics (The Value of Nothing), Patel is working on a new multimedia project with award-winning documentary filmmaker Steve James, the director of “Hoop Dreams” and “The Interrupters.” The “Generation Food” project will show how ordinary people around the world are overcoming obstacles and “setting the table” for themselves, their communities, and generations to come using better, smarter ways of growing food and feeding the world than the industrial agriculture system. In the interview, he ends on a hopeful note:
I’m really impressed by this kind of political philosophy and scientific research coming from the poorest people on the planet. Their example is one everyone can learn from. So whether it’s NGOs in Canada or whether it’s barefoot farmers in Malawi, there are amazing lessons to be learned.
Patel will be the keynote speaker for Edible Austin’s “Eat/Drink Local Week,” celebrating local, fresh food in Central Texas from December 1-8. Tickets are available online. The current issue of Edible Austin includes a story about Patel and the project.