B iologists have suggested that we are nearing, or have already entered into, the 6th mass extinction period. While that is terrifying, the truth is, causing extinction is an old pastime for our species. In fact, the mere existence of humans has caused such ecological stress that we have been responsible for the demise of half of the megafauna in the continents which we have inhabited.  And, true to our nature, our species continues this trend of environmental decline and extinction in the footsteps of our ancestors today like we always have…with our diets.

For 10,000 years since the agricultural revolution, till agriculture has been a disaster of the natural world, with topsoil and biodiversity losses the most frequent and most evident casualties.  In fact, geologically speaking, agriculture stands out among the most significant and explosive events to appear (and mar) the face of the earth— changing it even faster than even the origin of life itself.