New Books in Food Michael Grunwald, "We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate" (Simon & Schuster, 2025)
Jun 28, 2025
Michael Grunwald, an award-winning journalist and author of "We Are Eating the Earth", shines a light on the urgent need to reform our food systems to combat climate change. He explores the complex relationship between agriculture practices and environmental impact, emphasizing the importance of humility in scientific understanding. From the challenges posed by nitrogen fertilizers to the journey of alternative proteins, Grunwald discusses innovative solutions for a sustainable future, all while highlighting the critical connection between food security and climate health.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Land Use and Climate Impact
- Land is not free and ignoring its cost leads to underestimating climate impact from biofuels and land use changes.
- Agriculture uses two-fifths of the world's land and greatly impacts climate and biodiversity.
Lawyer Challenges Biofuel Science
- Tim Searchinger, a lawyer, published multiple high-profile scientific papers disproving biofuel benefits.
- Scientists initially doubted him but later acknowledged his valid scientific critiques.
Feeding the World Without More Land
- Agriculture has transformed much of the natural planet and now uses land equivalent to three South Americas.
- We must produce 50% more food by 2050 with 80% fewer emissions using no additional land.
