Episode 6: Food Crises and Food Riots with Naomi Hossain

In this episode I interview Naomi Hossain, a political sociologist and researcher, about food crises and food riots. Understanding that food scarcity is not what causes famines or even rising food prices is so crucial for anyone interested in growing or eating food (so, yes, all of us!). Our interview touches on lots of important and interesting themes, so please check out the resources for more information!

I wanted to call this episode ‘Happy Solstice, let’s riot!’ but I didn’t want to take away from the serious topic. However, let’s use the dark winter months to think about the seeds that might be germinating to build a better world in which the abundance of the Earth is shared equally!

Resources from this episode

1. First of all, please read this twitter thread on the Women’s March on Versailles
2. Check the Institute for Development Studies for more information about Naomi’s research projects
3. John Bohstedt’s paper Food Riots and the Politics of Provisions in World History
4. IDS/Oxfam GB Life in a Time of Food Price Volatility project
5. Check out the song by Mozambque hip hop artist Azagaia,  Povo no poder (people no power)

Books

1. The Aid Lab by Naomi Hossain
2.  Food Riots, Food Rights and the Politics of Provisions co-edited by Naomi Hossain and Patta Scott-Villiers
3. Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World
   by Mike Davis