Abstract
Earth's environmental problems, in particular the erosion and decertification of arable land, are complex interactions of the natural and social sciences, of economics, of philosophy and religion. These problems require the attention and diligent work of many experts in narrow fields, for instance toxicology and agriculture, but also require leadership from cross-disciplinary individuals who are able to integrate these many different fields of study. One such individual is the author of this book. Freudenberger has an extensive background in international agriculture, but is professor of Christian ethics at the Claremont School of Theology. He worked as an agricultural consultant in more than thirty countries for thirty-five years during a time when agriculture in many "developing countries" was beginning the long and incomplete transition away from colonial export agriculture and toward becoming self-sustaining in food production. He describes his experiences as an agriculture student in California and as an agricultural consultant in Sarawak and what is now Zaire. We who teach or are concerned about issues either of the destruction of our common environment, or of feeding the hungry, need to listen to Freudenberger's voice of experience.