Should you buy organic food? Is it just a status symbol, or is it really better for us? Is it really better for the environment? What about organic produce grown thousands of miles from our kitchens, or on massive corporately owned farms? Is “local” or “small-scale” better, even if it’s not organic? A lot of consumers who would like to do the right thing for their health and the environment are asking such questions. India’s Organic Farming Revolution explores these questions, leading readers to rethink the politics of organic food.

Organic agriculture is a rapidly growing phenomenon in places like India. Over half a million organic farmers live in the country, the highest number of organic producers of anywhere in the world. India’s organic exports are now part of a multi-million dollar global trade network, and American consumers can find several of these goods, including rice and spices, in their local supermarkets.

In the south Indian state of Kerala, farmers, activists, and policymakers are turning to organic farming the break away from the Green Revolution, a system of agricultural production heavily reliant on chemicals, and the cause of thousands of farmer suicides in the country. Kerala’s example shows that when done right, organic agriculture can be good for everyone in our global food system.