Why read Economic Poisoning?

Book cover of Economic Poisoning: Industrial Waste and the Chemicalization of American Agriculture

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The toxicity of pesticides to the environment and humans is often framed as an unfortunate effect of their benefits to agricultural production. In Economic Poisoning, Adam M. Romero upends this narrative and provides a fascinating new history of pesticides in American industrial agriculture prior to World War II. Through impeccable…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Economic Poisoning as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Julie Guthman

Author

In my next pick, Romero draws on previously unexplored archives to tell stories of pesticides never told before, most notably how industrial waste was utilized to make chemicals that could kill all that got in agriculture’s way.

I love how he renders ironic the closed-looped systems so championed by environmentalists—or the use of warfare chemicals on fields that grow our foods. It is indeed strange that we use chemicals designed to kill the food that we eat to live.

From Julie's list on The best super engaging scholarly books that will bend your mind about the role of technology in modern food production.