The Story of Seeds: From Mendel’s Garden to Your Plate, and How There’s More of Less to Eat Around the World

In a topical blend of history, ecology, and social science, written in the tradition of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Castaldo (Sniffer Dogs) explains how seeds are fundamentally important to survival on Earth. While readers may think of seeds as ubiquitous and readily sustainable (if they think of them at all), historical examples of famine, such as the Great Hunger in Ireland, speak to the catastrophe that can result from a lack of crop diversity. Castaldo breaks down threats like climate change and disease, while providing a greater sense of interconnectivity in nature and within world communities. Offsetting a potentially dour or dire narrative, Castaldo profiles activist “Seed Warriors” who have championed the protection of agrobiodiversity; photographs of fruits, vegetables, and seeds appear throughout. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)