The Sociology of Food and Agriculture / Edition 2

by Michael Carolan

Overview

Thoroughly revised and updated, the third edition of The Sociology of Food and Agriculture provides a cutting-edge, comprehensive introduction to the study of food and society.

The book begins by examining the food economy, with chapters focusing on foodscapes, the financialization of food, and a new chapter dedicated to food and nutrition (in)security. In Part II, the book addresses community and culture. While some books only look at the interrelationships between food and culture, this section problematizes the food system from the standpoint of marginalized bodies. It contains chapters focusing on agricultural and food labor and the peasantries, topics which are often overlooked, and gender, ethnicity, and poverty. Part III examines food and the environment, with chapters addressing important topics such as agro-ecosystems, food justice, sustainable food, and agriculture and food sovereignty. The final part focuses on food futures and includes a brand-new chapter on sustainable diets and ethical consumption. The book concludes by showcasing how we can rethink food production and consumption in a way that can help heal social, political, and cultural divisions. All chapters draw on international case studies and include learning objectives, suggested discussion questions, and recommendations for further reading to aid student learning.

The Sociology of Food and Agriculture is perfect for students of food studies, including food justice, food and nutrition security, sustainable diets, food sovereignty, environmental sociology, agriculture, and cultural studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138946255
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/10/2016
Series:	Earthscan Food and Agriculture
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Carolan is Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development in the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University, USA. He is the author or co-editor of numerous books, including the Routledge Handbook of Sustainable and Regenerative Food Systems (2020), The Real Cost of Cheap Food (2018), Society and the Environment (2017), and Cheaponomics (2014), all published by Routledge.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction to a complex and ever-changing field; PART I The multi-scalar food economy 2 Understanding foodscapes: past, present, and future; 3 Food and nutrition (in)security; 4 Financialization of food; PART II Community, culture, and knowledge 5 Community, labor, and peasantries; 6 Food and culture; 7 Gender, ethnicity, and poverty; PART III Food justice and the environment 8 Agro-ecosystems and the nature of “natures”; 9 Food, agriculture, and the environment; 10 Food sovereignty – beyond food security; PART IV Agrifood futures: solutions, trade-offs, and opportunities 11 Sustainable diets and ethical consumption; 12 The “traps” in agrifood studies ... and beyond; 13 Reimagining healthy eating

Editorial Reviews

"Carolan delivers a brilliant and insightful overview of agrifood systems with a level of accessibility that will reach undergraduates and rigor that will convince graduate students. Supported by evidence and scholarly references throughout, this work exceeds the standards of most textbooks, while infusing pedagogy that is absent in typical monographs." – Gregory Fulkerson, Associate Professor of Sociology, State University of New York at Oneonta, USA.

"The interactions between food and society are incredibly complex, as well as increasingly contested. This book illustrates the value of applying a critical, sociological lens to these topics. The second edition is even more comprehensive, and remains an extraordinary synthesis of a very diverse field of scholarship." – Philip H. Howard, , Associate Professor of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, USA and author of Concentration and Power in the Food System.

"I found the first edition quite useful for helping the growing number of students enrolling in my sociology of agriculture and food systems course survey the field. I appreciate the expanded topics in this second edition that explore in more depth an even broader range of food system topics that reflect where the field is evolving. I also really love all the graphics integrated into the text." – Jeff S. Sharp, Director and Professor of Rural Sociology, The Ohio State University, USA.

"Michael Carolan’s second edition of the Sociology of Food and Agriculture is a timely addition to a growing chorus that describes our current predicaments while offering sources and tools of hope. Carolan’s unique style blends the breadth and depth of a creative academic, a driven sociological imagination and a passion for justice around issues of food and agriculture that can inform and inspire students and scholars alike. This is a vital book at an important time." – Paul V. Stock, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Environmental Studies Program, The University of Kansas, USA.

From the Publisher