Food Citizenship: Food System Advocates in an Era of Distrust - Softcover

Goldberg, Ray A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0190871814 ISBN 13: 9780190871819

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2018

Synopsis

The global food system is the largest segment of the world's economy. As agribusiness-studies pioneer Ray Goldberg suggests, it is also the largest health system on the planet. And it is changing fast. Its size and importance to human, environmental, and economic health means that no system is viewed with as much suspicion by so many people around the globe.
Changing societal expectations and scientific and medical advances have made the drivers of the food system--the world's food citizens--realize they must take more responsibility for society's nutritional needs, economic development, and the health of the environment. Goldberg argues that the traditionally commodity-oriented, bargaining relationship between segments of the food system has become win-win, collaborative, and characterized by public and private partnerships. Those who are responding to society's needs are succeeding; those who are not are losing out.
The food system's greatest growth area is the developing world, where millions of small-scale producers, workers, and impoverished consumers need help to become part of the commercial food system.
In this book, Ray Goldberg interviews the change makers of today's food system: leaders and constructive critics in government, private industry, nonprofits, and academia who provide a panoramic and in-depth look at a revolution in progress.

About this title

About the Author

Ray A. Goldberg is the George M. Moffett Professor of Agriculture and Business, Emeritus at Harvard University. He is the pioneer of the field of agribusiness, and for 60 years he has studied the people and firms who are making a difference around the food system.

Review

"In all the interviews, Goldberg exhibits the civility and respect that sometimes are in short supply, or even non-existent, in the often passionate public debate over the food we eat and where it comes from. ... Goldberg's [book] should appeal to agriculturalists and others who want to understand and strengthen this exceptionally important and complicated industry" -- Agweek

"Through deft and probing interviews he has created a unique record of how his various stakeholders characterize in their own words the greatest challenges and opportunities facing contemporary efforts to build a global food system that works for all. And if a peace treaty for the global food wars has not yet emerged from these conversations, the civility and mutual respect that Goldberg has done so much to create does offer grounds for hope." -- William C. Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development, Harvard University

"Ray A. Goldberg's new book is a compelling and terrific analysis of the most important industry in the world. The production, distribution, and consumption of food, and the challenges confronted with a world of climate, nutrition, and governance issues are so critical for our future, and Goldberg has one of the greatest minds in the world to opine on these challenges. Hopefully, other world leaders in Government, the business community, and the academic and non-Government arenas will take note." -- Dan Glickman, United States Secretary of Agriculture, 1995 - 2001 and Member of Congress, 1977-1995

"This book addresses a subject of unquestionably widespread and enduring significance, offers an analytic treatment of fundamental issues relating to the past and future of 'agribusiness', documented by primary data collected from a diverse set of informants and reported in detail in the form of interviews. As a scholarly work, the book can be further characterized as a revelatory case history of the development and inner workings of an informal institution (PAPSAC) that has become an integral part of the governance structure of the global food system" -- Alvin Silk, Former Deputy Dean, Sloan School of Management, MIT

"A must read for all those seeking to understand the future path to a viable and equitable world food system. Ray Goldberg uses his pioneer's wisdom to capture powerful and practical insights of key leaders from business, government, scientific, and social sectors and how their innovative cross-sector collaborations are transforming the food system." -- James E. Austin, Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus Harvard Business School

"Very few are sufficiently knowledgeable; suitably experienced or insightful to provide an authoritative vision of the vital global food system as Professor Ray Goldberg-and his forthcoming book is eagerly awaited by those who have benefitted so much from his distinguished leadership over many years" -- Professor WP Davies, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Royal Agricultural University Cirencester UK

"Professor Goldberg has observed the many facets of the global food economy up close throughout his long and distinguished career. Food Citizenship describes how many different stakeholders are transforming this sector through public-private partnerships. I highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to know more about how individuals, organizations, and firms are transforming our planet for the betterment of mankind." -- Dr.Michael Boland, Koller Professor and Director, Applied Economics Food Industry Center University of Minnesota

"With his longstanding and remarkable approach to strategic decision-making in companies, Ray Goldberg now sheds a fascinating light on the most pressing business sector of today: food." -- Louise O. Fresco, President Wageningen UR, The Netherlands

"Readers of Food Citizenship will encounter a veritable treatise on the evolving global food industry. Goldberg delves into the vertical production, manufacturing, and distribution of the food that winds its way through an increasingly integrated system before ultimately ending up on one's table. The author crafts a comprehensive macro view of agribusiness without giving short shrift to the reality on a micro level... Thought provoking, timely, and scholarly, this is an Insightful and nontraditional examination of the global food system." -- S. M. Mohammed, State University of New York at Fredonia

"[Goldberg] crafts a comprehensive macro view of agribusiness without giving short shrift to the reality on a micro level, and the resulting book is a solid balance of facts and analysis. The sheer breadth of the research is stunning, with interviews sourced directly from CEOs of some well-known (and some less-known) international conglomerates, government officials, and industry advisors. ...Thought provoking, timely, and scholarly, this is an Insightful and nontraditional examination of the global food system." --CHOICE

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0190871814
• ISBN 13: 9780190871819
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 344