50 pages • 1 hour read
Michael PollanThe Omnivore's Dilemma
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Index of Terms
Haber-Bosch Process
The Haber-Bosch Process, developed in 1909, allowed for the high-yield production of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen. This ammonia could be used for fertilizer; the success of the Haber-Bosch process has led to several global outcomes, including high-yield food production, increase in human population, and increase in carbon emissions.
GMO
GMO stands for “Genetically Modified Organism.” This refers to a plant or animal species with DNA that has been altered using genetic engineering. Pollan highlights how the production of food, especially corn, has changed through genetic modification.
Monoculture
Monoculture means the cultivation of a single crop. The farms described in the first part of the book, including the feedlots in Kansas and the Iowan corn industry, represent monocultures.
Monsanto
Monsanto was an agricultural biotechnology company which specialized in herbicides and genetically modified organisms. Monsanto is well-known for pursuing numerous lawsuits over patents for its products. In 2016, the company was purchased by Bayer.
Omnivore
An omnivore is an animal, or person, that eats and can survive on both plants and animal matter. Humans, for instance, are omnivores, as are bears, dogs, foxes, and a whole array of other animals.
Organic
In the food industry, “organic” refers to an agricultural process that is free from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Pollan’s work criticizes the term “organic” for sending an unclear message to consumers.
Polyculture
Polyculture is a type of farming that cultivates many different types of animals and plants. Salatin’s farm is an example of a polyculture in which the different species interact in a way that is beneficial for all.
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By Michael Pollan
