The Big Ratchet

In this fair, thorough look at how modern agriculture changed the world, Columbia University professor Ruth DeFries explains the “ratchet-pivot-hatchet” mechanisms behind the Green Revolution and the human ingenuity driving each step. Her descriptions prove simple enough for the uninitiated; her exhaustive notes and references should satisfy the pickiest academic. DeFries neither issues a call for returning to subsistence farming nor champions modern agriculture. She strikes a balance while explaining the pros and cons of chemical fertilizers and modern, selectively bred crops. The second chapter is sometimes tedious, but provides valuable background and resources. DeFries – for better or worse – falls short of suggesting paths for the future. getAbstract recommends her history and analysis to anyone concerned about food production, agriculture, global hunger and environmental issues.