メディアで取沙汰される多くの論争にも明らかなように、農業や食料問題に対する関心はかつてないほど高まっています。新しい農業技術を受け入れる人がいる一方で、伝統的な農法を頑なに守る人がいます。世界各地で生産された食品を買い求める人がいる一方で、地元の小さな農家をひいきにする人もいます。有機食材、遺伝子組み換え作物、家畜福祉に関する議論では、科学文献が何を述べているのか、必ずしも明らかではありません。
同じように知的な善意の人が、なぜ食に関しては根本的に異なる意見を持ちうるのでしょうか。論争の背景には科学的な意味合いが横たわることもあれば、倫理観の対立がある場合もあります。農薬が使われてさえいれば食品は安全なのか、それとも有機作物のほうが健康にとって良いものなのか。化学肥料は持続可能か、それとも安い食料は未来の世代の犠牲の上に成り立っているのか。二酸化炭素の排出を少なくするためにはどのような食品を摂取すれば良いのか。遺伝子組み換え食品は世界の食糧安全保障の鍵となるのか。遺伝子組み換え食品は企業に角の市場支配力を与えているのか。食料システム全体におけるトウモロコシの過剰供給は補助金がもたらしたものなのか。地元の食品を買うと地域経済は活性化するのか。多くの家畜が屋内で飼育され、抗生物質を投与されている理由とは。本書ではこれらすべてに答えているわけではありませんが、読者が自分自身の答えを導き出せるように、これら重要な問題の両側面に関する研究と、一般的な見解を総合的に提供しています。
   

• The authors represent a diverse mixture of relevant research backgrounds, including animal science, agriculture, and economics
• Both sides of the debates are presented without advocating one viewpoint over another
• Contains a synthesis of dense multi-disciplinary literature

 
The world is more interested in issues surrounding agricultural and food issues than ever before. Are pesticides safe? Should we choose locally grown food? Why do some people embrace new agricultural technologies while others steadfastly defend traditional farming methods? In the debates about organic food, genetically modified organisms, and farm animal welfare, it's not always clear what the scientific studies are actually telling us.
 
To understand these controversies and more, the authors of Agricultural and Food Controversies: What Everyone Needs to Know begin by encouraging readers to develop an understanding of how two well-educated people can form radically different opinions about food. Sometimes the disputes are scientific in nature, and sometimes they arise from conflicting ethical views. This book confronts the most controversial issues in agriculture by first explaining the principles of each side of the debate, guiding readers through the scientific literature so that they can form their own educated opinions. 
 
Questions asked:
- Are organic foods truly better for your health? 
- Are chemical fertilizers sustainable, or are we producing cheap food at the expense of future generations? 
- What foods should we eat to have a smaller carbon footprint?
- Does buying local food stimulate the local economy? 
- Why are so many farm animals raised indoors? 
- Should antibiotics be given to livestock? 
- Is genetically-modified food the key to global food security, and does it give corporations too much market power? 
- Is the prevalence of corn throughout the food system the result of farm subsidies? 
 
Providing a combination of research and popular opinions on both sides of the issue, Agricultural and Food Controversies: What Everyone Needs to Know allows readers to decide for themselves what they personally value and believe to be important when it comes to their food.