"The Blue Plate" takes readers on a journey to understand the complex world of the food we eat - and the sustainability struggles that are only growing in severity and frequency.

Conservation and environmentalism are at the forefront of many people's minds these days. Choosing sustainable and ethical products is a priority. Often the solution for food is touted as being simple: Go vegan. But this sustainability is not as simple as that, especially as you learn more about agriculture methods/impacts, as "The Blue Plate" informs. Mark Easter does a phenomenal job shedding light on the climate crisis link with agriculture. Not only does he touch on the meat and dairy industry but also grains and fruits. He evokes compassion throughout the book, but doesn't hold back with his criticism. While Mark does encourage readers to make personal changes to their plates to help the planet, he holds the most weight against the systemic issues plaguing the industry and changes that can be made to the way we farm to help the environment.

An aspect of the book I was particularly grateful for was the information on dams - the common misconception as the sustainability of dams and how dam removal is restoration and beneficial to the planet and against climate change.

This book is a must read for folks concerned about the climate crisis and better understanding the role agriculture plays. And if this book, or the topic, interests you, I recommend you watch the 2016 documentary, "Sustainable."

I received a free ARC via NetGalley for this book. Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and author!