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FOOD FOR THOUGHT,

AND A FEW GOOD BOOKS

BY POPI BOWMAN

In our first issue of this year, we focused on gamechangers. As David Suzuki reminded us, climate change might be the biggest one of them all. Scientists have been sounding the alarm for decades, but now we’re seeing that many of the past projections were too conservative, in light of recent events. Nobody should need a list of facts to see the growing trend, as this summer’s wildfires, record-breaking temperatures, droughts and floods seemed to spin out of control around the world – just as we started to regain our freedom after more than a year of pandemic lockdowns! The excitement of vaccinations is almost overshadowed by natural disasters, and new uncertainties.

While we grapple with adapting to climate change, there are many questions that still need answers. More than a year ago, in our Winter 2019–20 “Feeding the World” issue, we looked at how scientists are addressing food security. As it turns out, that issue won the Gold award in this year’s Tabbie Top 25 Best Single Issues, an international competition among B2B publications! Coincidentally, we were already working on this follow-up issue, taking another look at the science of food. It is a huge topic, which we also tackle with each edition of Canadian Food Business (included in every issue).

The food industry is one of many that underwent a major shift due to the pandemic, but it was already undergoing a huge transformation with the rising popularity of meat substitutes and technological advances such as blockchain tracking, along with consumer interest in healthier, sustainable diets. What started with tofu in the 1970s has exploded into a trend that has even permeated the fast food industry, which is jumping on board with meatless burgers, organic options and whole-grain offerings. The big question is whether lab-grown meats will be embraced on the same scale (article on p.14).

The Canadian Food Business section (p.30) opens with an excerpt from a new book edited by Nicoletta Batini, a monetary policy scholar who currently works for the International Monetary Fund. In The Economics of Sustainable Food, a roadmap is laid out by a variety of researchers and industry experts to ensure “smart policies for health and the planet.” The intensive analysis is compelling, inspiring and informative, so we included a sample of Chapter One to whet your appetite.

Another book I highly recommend, first published in 2012, is High Tide on Main Street by oceanographer John Englander. He uses ample research to support a broad analysis of where climate change is heading, and his conclusions are riveting. This year, Englander’s second book was released: Moving to Higher Ground, Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward. He elaborates on the premise that sea level rise is already unstoppable, and that “intelligent adaptation” is our only course forward. I know what I’ll be reading this summer!

We’re also already working on the next issue, which revisits our first-ever “Women in STEM” issue (Summer 2019) but opens the field to BIPOC and LGBTQ. Technically, the field always should be open, and putting the spotlight on some of the key players helps everyone move forward together. In preparation for climate change, future pandemics and whatever else comes our way, we need to be willing to embrace – or at least accept – our differences. Science can be a great equalizer, if we level the playing ground.

Popi Bowman