Elgar Encyclopedia of Food and Society

Featuring over 120 entries from international experts, this Encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of the activities, ideas, issues and challenges that shape relationships between food systems and society. Each entry includes an accessible and informative introduction to its topic, along with specific examples, recommended further reading and references to other sources.

Presenting a range of ideas around food production, consumption and waste, the Encyclopedia outlines how food and societal relationships are entwined with political, economic, cultural and environmental processes. Adopting a critical and interdisciplinary approach, entries explore how food production and consumption are a reflection of race, gender and class ideologies, analysing the social implications of food through a sustainability lens. The Encyclopedia also demonstrates how relationships between food and society are embedded in urgent debates around climate and environmental emergencies, poverty and food security.

This Encyclopedia is an essential resource for students and academics in human geography, sociology, anthropology, cultural studies, politics and history, as well as for those working in interdisciplinary areas such as food studies, environmental and sustainability sciences and development studies. Its unique insights into the legal, social and health aspects of food will greatly benefit practitioners in public policy and environmental politics.

Key Features

• Over 120 entries from a diverse variety of global contributors
• Provides an exceptional breadth of coverage of food-society issues
• Entries are extensively cross-referenced to emphasise linkages between issues
• Includes recommended reading to guide further research on the subject