The Story of Seeds: From Mendel's Garden to Your Plate, and How There's More of Less to Eat Around the World

In this wake-up call about the fragility of our plant-based food supply, Castaldo speaks clearly to the importance of plant diversity, presenting engaging scientific and historical information about agricultural science, genetics, and biodiversity along with accounts of global politics, industrialism, and activism. Numerous photographs of the plants and people involved in plant and seed preservation are included. A "Call to Action" section is appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

"Some 75 percent of plant genetic diversity has been lost since the 1900s...More than 90 percent of crop varieties are no longer being farmed...half of our calories...come from just three [plants] -- rice, maize, and wheat." This eye-opening book on the science and politics of agriculture serves as a wake-up call to readers about the fragility of something many of us take for granted: our plant-based food supply. Castaldo clearly lays out a case for the importance of plant diversity ("Seeds equal life"), presenting engaging scientific and historical information about agricultural science, genetics, and biodiversity along with variously alarming and inspiring accounts of global politics, industrialism, and grassroots activism. Numerous photographs of the plants and people involved in plant and seed preservation are included, as well as profiles of notable scientists and activists: Soviet scientists who died of starvation during the siege of Leningrad while protecting edible seeds; an Iraqi scientist who buried priceless seeds to protect them from destruction during the recent wars; an Indian scientist who works tirelessly to fight industrial takeover of cotton farming traditions; and local activists across the United States who are creating seed banks to preserve heirloom varieties of crops. An appended "Call to Action" section contains practical steps to take -- from joining a CSA to writing letters to Congress. Copious resources invite further investigation. danielle j. ford