Diet for a Large Planet: What has led to our current diet?

We are facing a world food crisis of unparalleled proportions. Our reliance on unsustainable dietary choices and agricultural systems is causing problems both for human health and the health of our planet. Solutions from lab-grown food to vegan diets to strictly local food consumption are often discussed, but a central question remains: how did we get to this point?  Join Ohio State History Professor Chris Otter as he takes us back over the last 200 years to explore how we developed our current diet heavy in meat, wheat, and sugar. He’ll explore how the British played a significant role in making red meat, white bread, and sugar the diet of choice—linked to wealth, luxury, and power—and how dietary choices connect to the pressing issues of climate change and food supply.  

Panelists:
-Nicholas Breyfogle | Associate Professor, Department of History; Director, Goldberg Center
-Chris Otter | Professor, Department of History  

A transcript of this podcast is available at https://origins.osu.edu/transcripts/diet-for-a-large-planet 

This event is presented in partnership with Bexley Public Library.  This is a production of the College of Arts & Sciences and Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective at the Goldberg Center in the Department of History at The Ohio State University and the Department of History at Miami University. Be sure to subscribe to our channel to receive updates about our videos and podcasts. For more information about Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, please visit http://origins.osu.edu.  

We thank the Stanton Foundation for their funding of this and other Origins projects. http://thestantonfoundation.org/

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A transcript of this podcast is available at https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/diet-large-planet