Presentation delivered by Dr. Rachel Laudan (Food historian, UK) at Borlaug Summit on Wheat for Food Security. March 25 - 28, 2014, Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. http://www.borlaug100.org

1. Wheat: The Grain at the Center
of Civilization
Rachel Laudan Ph. D.
www.rachellaudan.com

2. 1.
Wheat as one among
many grains, 20,000
B.C.-200 B.C.

4. Pottage
Barley Bread Porridge & Pottage
Gruel & Atole Beer & Rice ‘Wine’

6. Grains provision
cities (25,000) and
armies
2 lbs per person
per day

7. Grain for Ea
Grain for Demeter

8. Civilized=Grain
Eater
Barbarian=Non
-Grain Eater

10. Grinding Slaves
(20% working population
grinds)

11. 2.
Wheat the basis of the
Eurasian Empires, 200 B.C.-
1900 A.D.

12. Libya, 13th c
China 1st c
England 15th c

13. 6% of working
population grind

14. 4% grind

15. Cities up
to 1
million

20. Roti/Chapati

21. Lavash
Naan

22. Tharid

23. Bakery of Eurysaces, Rome, ca 50 B.C.

25. Early Christian Communion with Roman Bread

26. Making and drying
pasta 14th c
Pies baking in
portable oven

27. Bread
For the rich For the poor

29. Breadstones, Wishford, England

30. Women march on Versailles in November 1787

31. 3.
Wheat and the Global
Dietary Crisis 1880-
1920

32. Canadian Pacific Wheat Train, 1907
Wheat Ship South
Australia to London, ca
1900

33. Buffalo, NY
London

34. Cooperative Wholesale Society
Mills, London, ca. 1900

35. Roller Mills
Motorized Presses

36. French
Bakery, ca
1900

37. Cities of 6 million

40. German Mobile
Bakeries, WWI
Royal Navy Bakery
WWII

42. ?
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?
?
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?
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Global Culinary Crisis: Bread or Rice/Maize?

43. 4.
Wheat as the Grain for All,
1920s--

44. Cargill grail elevator,
Duluth
Grain
Hoppers in
Vancouver

45. Upper Egypt
Mills
Nippon Flour Mills, Japan

46. Cities of 20 million

47. Herbert Hoover
sends wheat to
Belgium
Embroidered flour
sacks sent in thanks

51. Baguette
in Vietnam
Hamburger
in Korea

52. Mexican Flour
Tortillas
In Japan

53. Pita Bread
Pan or Tortilla Arabe

54. Bambino in India
Grande in Zaire

55. Instant Noodle Vending
Machine, Japan
Noodle
Aisle,
Vietnam

57. Thank You
Rachel Laudan
www.rachellaudan.com
rachel@rachellaudan.com