The World According to Monsanto: Pollution, Politics and Power
Winner of the Rachel Carson Prize, this explosive expose details the disturbing practices of one of the world's most influential multinational agricultural corporations.
The result of a remarkable three-year-long investigation that took award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin across four continents, The World According to Monsanto tells the little-known yet shocking story of this agribusiness giant—the world’s leading producer of GMOs (genetically modified organisms)— its new and dubious “green” face and its problematic PCB– and Agent Orange–soaked past.
Robin reports that, following its long history of manufacturing hazardous chemicals and lethal herbicides, Monsanto is now marketing itself as a “life sciences” company, seemingly convinced about the virtues of sustainable development. However, Monsanto now controls the majority of the yield of the world’s genetically modified corn and soy—ingredients found in a high percentage of households—and its legal and political tactics to maintain this monopoly are the subject of worldwide concern.
Released to great acclaim and controversy in France, throughout Europe, and in Latin America, alongside the documentary film of the same name, The World According to Monsanto is sure to change the way we think about food safety and our food supply.
2010 | ISBN 9781876756833 | Paperback | 229 x 155 mm | 384 pp
Awards
2009 Rachel Carson Prize
Reviews
And on and on it goes. Tales of subterfuge, sabotage, bullying of the media and scientists—a story of corporate behaviour so bad it's hard to believe.
John Newton, Sydney Morning Herald
This book is a solid read but not difficult as it draws you in like a chilling thriller— not for the faint-hearted.
Judith Gray, Earth Garden Magazine
... her argument is hard to ignore.
Stephen Matchett, Weekend Australian Review
We're often too busy to think about where our food comes from. But as this widely-acclaimed exposé and its companion documentary film demonstrate, we should make time to pay attention. Marie-Monique Robin spent three years investigating Monsanto, the world's leading producers of GMOs. In this prize-winning, controversial account, she lays out the dirt she dug up on the recently 'green' Monsanto's history with hazardous chemicals. Monsanto's GM corn and soy products are found in a high percentage of households. Readings
Not glamorous, and not a cookbook, but arguably the most important big-picture food book this year ... Riveting, scary stuff.
John Lethlean and Necia Wilden, The Australian
We are what we eat, and what we eat is rapidly being determined by one company, Monsanto. Monsanto's seed and food dictatorship is based on corrupting regulatory processes, corrupting science, and destroying democracy. We needed a book that told us the story in detail, with courage—The World According to Monsanto does just that.
Vandana Shiva
As this powerful book makes clear, Monsanto's innovations create more problems than they solve—above all by helping to concentrate the food system in every fewer hands, with baleful consequences for the world's small-scale farmers. It is the kind of reporting we need more of, and one hopes it will be at least a partial antidote to all the sleek commercials with smiling peasants.
Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth: Making A Life On A Tough New Planet
Sends chills down the spine... we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye.
Le Point
An alarming and uncompromising investigation.
Le Monde
Truly noble journalistic work... Robin informs, enlightens, unveils, and begins the work of alerting the public.
La Marseillaise
A vast investigation of Monsanto—the first of this scope to dismantle the... practices of the St. Louis–based agrochemical firm, world leader of GMOs.
Télérama
I highly recommend The World According to Monsanto as a way to acquire knowledge in and raise awareness of the issue.
Rafa Lombardino, eWordNews
[A] truly eye-opening view of how American business-as-usual really works.
Daily Kos