Bill Gates has once again shared his admiration for Vaclav Smil, his favorite author. Smil recently released a new book titled How to Feed the World, which tackles pressing issues like food waste and global food insecurity. Gates highlights the book’s insights on how cutting down food waste can make food more accessible and affordable for everyone.
In a recent Instagram post, Gates expressed his excitement about Smil’s book, stating, “It will transform the way you think about hunger, food, and what we eat (and don’t).” He emphasized that improving the food supply chain can bring down costs for producers and consumers alike.
Vaclav Smil is a well-respected Czech-Canadian professor who has written over 40 books covering diverse topics such as energy, technology, and policy. Gates has long been a fan, describing his enthusiasm for Smil’s works akin to waiting for a blockbuster movie. He once wrote, “I’d read just about any topic he finds interesting.”
Reducing food waste is critical. Gates believes Smil’s book challenges outdated views on food scarcity. Even though there is enough food produced—about 3,000 calories per person daily—hunger persists. The problem isn’t the production but the distribution. An estimated one-third of food globally is wasted, which not only feeds into hunger but also drives up prices.
Food waste is incredibly costly. According to a report by McKinsey, around $600 billion worth of food is lost every year just after harvest. Another study from the Pacific Coast Collaborative shows that food waste at various supply levels leads to lost revenue for businesses and higher prices for consumers.
Smil’s book offers practical solutions, like enhancing food storage, packaging, and distribution methods to minimize waste. Gates finds particular interest in the potential of CRISPR gene editing to create crops resistant to climate changes.
Gates notes, “Like all of Vaclav’s best books, it challenges readers to think differently about a problem we thought we understood.” He stresses that food needs to be accessible, affordable, nutritious, and less wasted. With How to Feed the World, Smil invites us to rethink how we view and manage our food systems, bringing valuable insights to a complex issue.
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Vaclav Smil, How to Feed the World, Bill Gates, food waste, food security, global hunger, supply chain, sustainable food, food production, CRISPR, agriculture, climate change, economic impact, nutrition, grocery prices, farming, food systems, sustainability, hunger crisis, food distribution, Features News – Times Now
