"As of 2015, one in three people worked in agriculture globally. With agriculture contributing only 3 percent of the global GDP, it is challenging for those workers to earn a living wage. Concerns are levied against companies in the food industry, with questions raised about their ethics and their treatment of workers, livestock, and the environment. The massive scale of the industry makes regulation difficult, but under-regulation can result in public health crises. The diverse viewpoints in this volume explore the controversies, challenges, and solutions involved in providing food in our world today"--Provided by the publisher.

Does the industrial food complex present a public health problem? -- Overview: industrial agriculture has fundamentally changed the way the US food system functions / David Wallinga -- Yes: the industrial food complex is a public health problem -- Industrial agriculture prevents global food security / John Ikerd -- Agribusiness's reliance on monocultures contributes to hunger / Kumi Naidoo -- No: the industrial food complex is not a public health problem -- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) provide the key to global food security / Ramez Naam -- Industrial agriculture can be part of the fight against hunger in developing countries / Cristian Torres-León [and ten others] -- Does the industrial food complex encourage obesity? -- Overview: obesity in America is an epidemic / Berkeley Wellness -- Yes: the industrial food complex encourages obesity -- Agribusiness's influence and unethical food marketing drives obesity in the United States / Mark Hyman -- Agribusiness's oversize food portions result in obesity / Lisa R. Young and Marion Nestle -- No: the industrial food complex is not to blame for obesity rates -- USDA policies reward businesses for selling inexpensive, unhealthy food / David Wallinga -- Government intervention in the food market prevents a balanced food supply / Jeffrey A. Tucker -- Does the industrial food complex harm the environment? -- Overview: agriculture's industrialization currently relies on fossil fuels / Richard Heinberg and Michael Bomford -- Yes: the industrial food complex negatively impacts the environment -- Industrial farms pollute the air / The Earth Institute -- Industrial agriculture dangerously pollutes the earth in multiple ways / The Food Empowerment Project -- Industrial agriculture mandates deforestation / The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations -- No: the industrial food complex does not harm the environment -- Agribusiness can promote and adhere to sustainable agriculture practices / Natasha Geiling -- Consumer actions result in agribusiness turning to sustainable practices / Olivia Boyd -- Industrial agriculture is more effective at environmental conservation than small farms / Ted Nordhaus -- The cattle industry could help fight climate change / Jay Walljasper -- Does the industrial food complex increase economic inequality? -- Overview: the food system is inextricably linked to wider struggles in economic inequality and systemic racism / Anna Brones -- Yes: the industrial food complex increases income inequality -- Agriculture dumping increases income inequality worldwide / Sophia Murphy and Karen Hansen-Kuhn -- Agribusiness employs undocumented immigrants at unlivable wages / Sadhbh Walshe -- The fast food industry profits off of struggling workers / Katey Troutman -- No: the industrial food complex does not encourage income inequality -- Agribusiness can promote international economic development and sustainability / Catherine Ward -- Agriculture could be instrumental in increasing Africa's wealth / Akinwumi Adesina -- The World Trade Organization is to blame for inequality in agriculture, not agribusinesses / Timothy A. Wise and Sophia Murphy.