Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime: Food Security and Globalization (International Food Policy Research Institute) [Paperback]

C. Ford Runge (Author), Benjamin Senauer (Author), Philip G. Pardey (Author), Mark W. Rosegrant (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0801877261 | ISBN-13: 978-0801877261 | Publication Date: July 8, 2003

At a time in history when conflict erupts daily in far-flung corners of the world, ending severe deprivation may be critical to global peace and stability. Yet we are far from reaching the goal of reducing hunger by 2025. The authors of this book bring good news: hunger can be banished in our lifetime. They first distill what is already known about fighting hunger and then report on important new research findings and projections that show it can be done, through new and renewed institutions, scientific innovation, global economics and investment, and sustainable environmental practices. Although the book encompasses a wide array of ideas, arguments, facts, and figures, it is not a dry, academic text. Anyone wanting a better understanding of poverty and hunger and how to end it will benefit from reading it.

The text is strikingly illustrated with photographs by the renowned Brazilian photographer, Sebastião Salgado.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The book offers a clear explanation of the agricultural problems confronting the world's hungry. But its value lies in putting these physical challenges in a wider social context, looking at other factors, such as women's education, which affect household food security... It also challenges popular misconceptions—for example, that patents on genes held by multinational companies are hampering farmers in developing countries... [and it] provides a lucid discussion of the problems, and tremendous promise, of trade liberalisation.

(Economist 2004)

Presents a wide-ranging array of ideas, arguments, facts, and figures, drawing on new insights and research by the authors and others. A very useful and readable book that takes no sides, except that of the poor and hungry.

(Appropriate Technology 2004)

Rarely can—and with great caution, should—a book be described as a genuine service to our world and our capacity for sympathies and connections. Yet Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime: Food Security and Globalization overcomes the natural skepticism attendant to such an appellation and should inspire readers to think of ending hunger as not only a moral imperative but also an attainable goal.

(Benjamin J. Blaustein Electronic Green Journal )

Four experts on food and hunger... have written a book, Ending Hunger in Our Time, that makes a persuasive argument: there is no reason in the world for anyone to go hungry—and we can solve the problem in 50 years.

(Metro Lutheran )

How the world will feed its growing population is the main issue raised in this publication of the International Food Policy Research Institute.

(Choice )

A very effective synthesis and exposition of the issues related to food security. I know of no other work that brings the various threads of the food security issue together under one cover. It is well written and might even be able to capture the attention of that mythical individual—the very busy policy maker. I would guess that it might also find substantial classroom use.

(Vernon W. Ruttan, Regents Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota )

Despite its breadth and complexity, the book argues clearly and readably that we know a lot about how to reduce hunger... It is a hard assessment of what we know and what we can expect in the decades ahead.

(from the foreword by Joachim von Braun, director general, International Food Policy Research Institute, and David Beckmann, president, Bread for the World )

Review

"A very effective synthesis and exposition of the issues related to food security. I know of no other work that brings the various threads of the food security issue together under one cover. It is well written and might even be able to capture the attention of that mythical individual -- the very busy policy maker. I would guess that it might also find substantial classroom use." -- Vernon W. Ruttan, Regents Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: International Food Policy Research Institute (July 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801877261
• ISBN-13: 978-0801877261
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read!!, September 3, 2003

By 

Betsy Kidder (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime: Food Security and Globalization (International Food Policy Research Institute) (Paperback)

As a student of international health policy, I found this book contributed greatly to developing my own perspective on the plight of global hunger and the issues surrounding food security policy. It was an interesting read, easy to comprehend, and very well written. I recommend it not only to students, but anyone with a desire to become more aware of the important issues regarding the world's hunger. 5 stars!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good readable book about world hunger problems, September 4, 2003

By 

Edward Lotterman (St. Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime: Food Security and Globalization (International Food Policy Research Institute) (Paperback)

I liked this book because it shows there are still some economists who can write clearly about issues in the real world without geting bogged down in jargon or hung up on abstract theories. This is not a casual read, but the analysis and writing are very clear and accessable to any intelligent person who might be interested in world hunger, food security or food trade issues. It was also nice to see a university press willing to include photos taken by Sebastiao Salgado, who I think is the world's gretest living photographer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the world hunger challenge in world of plenty, September 7, 2008

By 

H. V. Amavilah "populi - the knowledge peddler" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime: Food Security and Globalization (International Food Policy Research Institute) (Paperback)

Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime describes the world hunger challenge in the globalizing world of plenty. It proposes sustainable solutions to world hunger. The problem about hunger is that it creates food insecurity, which ultimately implies diminished investment in human capital. Low human capital stock, and arguably its productivity, will threaten food production worldwide and food shortages will eventually induce the prices of all scarce resources to increase. Whereas fossil fuels are the backbone of an object-intensive economy, food security is the backbone of an idea-intensive economy (liberally paraphrasing Paul M. Romer here). As food prices rise, disposable income falls, and social welfare suffers, as there is an inverse relationship between measures of well-being such as GDP, HDI, PQLI, and poverty.

To end hunger we must produce more stuff and distribute them better. More production damages the environment, making us even more insecure. Only science (not pseudoscience) holds out a promise for rescue. Successful science requires new and better institutions. Moreover, here is where the rubber burns when it hits the road: this institutional change will need stronger investment in hunger-solving projects than before. All this can happen only if humans really want it done.


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