Nicole Negowetti - Feeding the Future: Restoring the Planet and Healing Ourselves
Feeding the Future by Nicole Negowetti provides a radical reframing of the current global food system to address injustices and existential threats. Read on for a Q&A with the author to learn more.
How do you see our current communities adapting to new roles within this “regenerative paradigm” you mention?
Communities worldwide are embracing a regenerative paradigm by shifting to holistic, life-sustaining approaches, such as Andhra Pradesh’s state-wide organic farming initiative, which supports over 800,000 farmers in transitioning away from chemical agriculture. This includes rebuilding soil fertility, reclaiming local food sovereignty, and integrating traditional ecological knowledge, as seen in the restoration of the buffalo to the Great Plains, led by Indigenous groups. Recognizing the deep interconnection between food, climate, and justice, communities are also working to restore waterways, as seen in the removal of obsolete dams on the Elwha and Klamath Rivers, which has revived fish populations and honored the Yurok Tribe’s leadership in securing legal personhood for the Klamath River. Rather than simply minimizing harm, these efforts actively repair damaged relationships between land, people, and planetary health, offering hope for a more adaptable and equitable future.
What do you hope readers, especially those who may have climate anxiety, take away from this book?
Feeding the Future reassures readers that while national governments and global institutions may not be leading the food system transformation, the shift towards regeneration is already happening. People around the world are building alternative economies, regional food systems, and large-scale land restoration projects.
The key takeaway for readers is to embrace Active Hope—a concept introduced by Joanna Macy by:
- Seeing the current reality clearly—acknowledging the deep structural issues in our food system, including human supremacy over nature, the obsession with yield, and the false promise of technology as a savior.
- Envisioning a different direction—one rooted in regenerative, reciprocal relationships with the rest of nature.
- Taking action within their spheres of influence—working towards systemic food systems change through localized, community-driven initiatives.