Endless Appetites: How the Commodities Casino Creates Hunger and Unrest

by Alan Bjerga

How to understand the twenty-first century food crisis Since 2007, farm-product prices have rocketed and plunged, causing hunger, malnutrition, and social and political upheaval around the world. Endless Appetites explores how "food security," the availability of food and the reasonable ability to buy it, has become one of the most challenging topics of our time. With every jump in grocery-store prices, the issue becomes more and more pressing, proven by this year's record increase in food prices, which has already topped the spike of 2008. To understand the growing international food crisis, readers need an expert they can rely on. One of the most widely acclaimed journalists on food security, Alan Bjerga is up to the task, taking readers from the trading floor of Chicago to the highlands of East Africa to the rice paddies of Thailand on a global trek to find the causes of the food-price crisis?and the solutions.

Genres: Food

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 23, 2011

Reviews

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[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the data is a bit old by now (2011), the issue of world hunger has only got worse. Sure, we all know this is a major issue, part of UN’s SDG, and fueled of conflicts, but I did’t know the scale of the issue until now.

[Toni Chanakas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to love this book. It was interesting but it took me too long to read - there was a lot of good statistical data that I think everyone should know. I did become informed about our food crisis that can be easily fixed but a hard problem to come to fruition.

I like what President Clinton said, "If you produce more biofuels, you produce less fuel" high food prices will result in riots.

I did learn about the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), and how farmers are receiving competitive wages with their wonderful coffee product.

There were so many good ideas that more conversations need to be done to help feed our planet. This issue is a global issue plus understanding that climate change is not helping farmers either. It is a real problem.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to how the commodities market has an effect on food prices. I appreciate that the author largely leaves it to the reader to place a value judgement, since there are clearly benefits as well as flaws to commodities markets, and there are many other factors to consider when looking at the rise and fall of food prices and supply. The main take away I got from this book is that a flawed world food market is slowly but surely correcting itself. There may be some hope for us yet.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that hunger will be the defining characteristic of the 21st century. The reasons for hunger around the world are quite complex. This book has so many insights that it was perfect for bootstrapping my knowledge of the situation. It is highly readable, and even suspenseful. Perhaps the picture it leaves the reader with is too rosy, but perhaps I am just a pessimist.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Best explanation I've seen of how the commodities market may be impacting global food prices. Outside of that, good introduction to the challenges of food security around the world.