Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply

In this remarkable book, Vandana Shiva effectively contrasts corporate command-and-control methods of food production with the small farmer economy that predominates in the third world (especially in her native India). In contast to what many here in the U.S. might perceive as the conventional wisdom, Shiva makes a strong argument that local, small scale agriculture is superior to the agribusiness model for a number of reasons. First, Shiva points out that many of the productivity gains attributable to the Green Revolution were achieved by dramatically increased inputs of fertilizer, seed and water. When one compares units of input with units of output, however, native practices produce higher yields -- especially when one takes into account the multiple uses derived from a single product. For example, mustard oil is a vital product used by many of India's poor for cooking, seasoning, medicine and other uses. But it has been banned by the Indian government (under highly suspicious circumstances) in order to allow imports of soybean oil products. While giant corporations benefit from expanded sales, native industries have been destroyed, contibuting to poverty and malnourishment. Shiva discusses the commercial fishing and aquaculture (shrimp farming) practices that inevitably result in environmental destruction and reduced catches. She compares this short-sighted approach with traditional Indian fishing techniques that have successfully sustained themselves for generations while protecting important ecosystems such as mangrove forests. Shiva discusses corporate patenting of seeds, which insidiously transforms the cooperative ethic of seed sharing into a criminal offense. The author supports a non-cooperation movement in India that is resisting corporate attempts to claim ownership of seeds that have been cultivated by countless generations of farmers. Shiva's sacred cow / mad cow metaphor effectively and appropriately contrasts agribusiness with small farming. India's sacred cows live in harmony with the environment, performing multiple services and producing multiple products for the community; whereas mad cows are a grotesque manifestation of an industrial system obsessed with uniformity, technology and profit. Shiva also touches on the topic of genetic engineering (GE) and discusses the threat it poses to biodiversity, food safety and human health. The Afterword to the book alludes to the WTO protests in Seattle. Shiva believes this watershed event proves that people are becoming more aware of the dangers of unaccountable corporate power, yet she believes that positive change is possible. This opening of consciousness to new possibilities may be attributable to the extraordinary work of people like Vandana Shiva, whose intelligence and compassion is abundantly evident in this book. Highly recommended!

Mrs Shiva has written an excellent expose that every one should take notice of. Stolen Harvest has finally answered a lot of questions I have had about how the world has been so negatively influenced by large mega agricultural companies.She offers us answers not only from her own country's experiences but from extensive scientific study and research. What she has discovered from her research has made me more aware of what chemicals my family may be eating when we add "fresh" food to our diet. Not only that, I have a better understanding or how our water, oils, breads, and environment have so often been negatively influenced. Not only that, but how some of these mega companies are trying to prevent the average, everyday person from buying, selling or sharing any heirloom seeds we may have. If you are not aware of the enemy at your door, it is time to start doing your own research, before it is too late.

Meticulous to the point of redundancy, this book is a detailed account. While reading it, I several times finished a section and thought to myself: "Didn't I read that a section ago?" This redundancy is not a crime, however, the purpose of the work considered. It is made for education, not entertainment, and to drive the point home repeatedly when one matter intersects every other - such is the way of this world - is certainly permissible if not necessary.

This book makes one aware of how biodiversity is important in our food supply, and of how local crop species and local practices help conserve the agricultural environment around the world. Hunger is not best addressed by monoculture and the importation of crop species from the west to the east, or put differently, from the north to the south, from the developed to the undeveloped. This is a plea for sustainable, wise food production, in an increasingly money-driven economic hegemony.

Had to read it for school. It was definitely interesting and a short read. However I found myself zoning out during the boring parts and sometimes skipping over them. It arrived on time and in good condition

What she does in educating the world through her writings and her direct action in the world is fab. Plus she is a smart scientist and it's always nice when brilliant people are working hard to change the world to make it better. Once you learn it's hard to unlearn.

I love how the author gets right to the point and doesn't mince words. I just wish there had been no need for such a sad tale of power, greed, corporate-delusion, and control issues. Being such a small book, it is an easy recommendation to those who think the corporate PR is true....

Read this book for a class and bought it to have my own copy. Great read.

Fields, crops, animals, milk, pesticides, insecticides and the industries related to them are all connected to only a few 5-7 people, and the author has very good knowledge about it. The author has tried to explain through gestures at many places. Although most of the information in the book is based on old data, only Vandana Madam has shown the courage to write about those people in the agriculture industry, thank you. - Hukum

All good.

Great book ,great delivery time and tracking Thanks

This book does have alot of facts in it - but I was a little disappointed that most of the book covers India, and not so much about the rest of the world. But the author is from India - and she does make the point of explaining that what happens in India has a major impact on the rest of the world.

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