What is NetworkNature Reads?
#NetworkNatureReads is inspired by #ReadingRainbow and the #NewYorkTimes #ByTheBook series, both of which spread a love of reading by highlighting stand out books and the people who love them. Our goal is to do the same, but with a #naturebasedsolutions flavor. Every month, we will feature one book selected by a NetworkNature member. We believe that literature widens perspectives and can foster connection with human and environmental communities. Read Love in a Time of Climate Change by Craig Santos Perez if you aren’t sure what we mean. This month’s interviewee is Sara Dastoum, a researcher and food systems advocate.
Want to get involved? Contact hello@networknature.eu to suggest a book!
Tell us about yourself! What role do nature and reading play in your life?
As a scientist who is deeply committed to sustainability and healthy food systems, my work often revolves around analyzing numbers and implementing strategies—but my soul finds balance in the embrace of nature. Whenever life feels heavy, I seek solace among towering trees and whispering leaves, a place where my worries dissipate like mist in the morning sun. Armed with a cup of tea, a beloved book, or my tablet to sketch fleeting inspirations, I immerse myself in nature's unspoken wisdom.
Nature is more than just a backdrop; it is my partner in mindfulness and creativity. It teaches me harmony, patience, and the interconnectedness of all living things—lessons that flow into my work as I advocate for diets that heal both people and the planet. My walks through the forest remind me why I strive to protect this delicate balance, promoting food systems that nourish humanity while safeguarding the intricate beauty of nature and its creatures. For me, nature isn’t just a retreat—it’s the compass guiding my heart and my mission.
Which book did you pick and why?
I chose Eating Planet because it resonates deeply with my love for nature and my mission to protect it. This book beautifully explores the intricate relationship between our food choices, the environment, and the future of our planet. As someone who finds peace and purpose in nature, I believe that the way we eat is a reflection of how we treat the world around us.
Eating Planet doesn’t just discuss sustainability—it invites us to reimagine a world where food nourishes both people and the earth. Its pages echo my belief that we can achieve a balance: diets that are healthy for us and harmonious with nature. This book feels like a call to action, inspiring me to continue my work in creating food systems that honour the delicate ecosystems I cherish during my walks in the forest. It reminds me that every meal is an opportunity to protect the beauty and healing power of the natural world.
Can you share a specific moment from the book that resonates with you personally? How does it connect to your work with Nature-based Solutions projects?
One moment from Eating Planet that greatly resonates with me is its discussion of how our food choices directly influence environmental sustainability and public health. The book underscores the urgent need to shift towards diets that are not only healthy but also kind to the planet—aligning perfectly with the work I’ve done in the FEAST project through detailed Business Impact Assessement (BIA) analyses on obesity and sustainability.
This moment connects to my work with Nature-based Solutions because it highlights a core principle I hold dear: that nature itself provides the answers we need if we choose to listen. The FEAST project has shown me how sustainable food systems can bridge the gap between human well-being and environmental resilience. Just as the book emphasizes the need for action, my work focuses on promoting diets that reduce the burden of obesity while protecting ecosystems—proving that health and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.
Through both the book and my analyses, I am reminded that we have the tools to create food systems that nurture people and safeguard the natural world I love so much. It's an empowering realization, one that drives my passion for connecting science, sustainability, and the healing power of nature.
In what ways do you see the themes or lessons from the book aligning with the goals of conservation and the challenges we face in combating biodiversity loss today?
The themes in Eating Planet are a profound reminder of the interconnectedness of our food systems and the health of the planet, particularly in addressing conservation and biodiversity loss. The book emphasizes how unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, and overexploitation of resources contribute not only to climate change but also to the alarming decline in biodiversity. This directly aligns with the goals of conservation, which seek to protect the very ecosystems that sustain life and the delicate balance of our natural world.
In my work, I see these lessons come to life through the promotion of sustainable, plant-forward diets and local food systems that reduce the strain on ecosystems. By encouraging sustainable farming practices and reducing reliance on monocultures and factory farming, we can create a ripple effect—preserving habitats, safeguarding species, and ensuring that biodiversity thrives.
The book’s call to action underscores a critical truth: every plate is a decision that shapes the future of our planet. Combating biodiversity loss means rethinking not just what we eat but how we produce, distribute, and consume food in harmony with nature. This is both the challenge and the opportunity we face today, and one I strive to address through my work.
If you were recommending this book to a colleague or a friend within the conservation community, what key takeaway or message would you highlight?
If I were recommending Eating Planet to a colleague in the conservation community, I would highlight this key takeaway: our food systems are at the heart of the planet's health, and transforming them is essential for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and public health challenges.
The book powerfully illustrates how every choice we make—from the crops we grow to the food we consume—has profound implications for the natural world. It emphasizes that by promoting sustainable diets and regenerative agricultural practices, we can actively protect ecosystems, combat habitat destruction, and foster biodiversity.
I would stress how the book connects global challenges to actionable solutions, reminding us that small, collective changes can have immense impacts. This is a call not just to advocate for change but to embody it in our personal and professional lives. It’s a deeply hopeful message: by rethinking how we interact with food, we have the power to restore balance to the natural world we all cherish.
Related Projects:
FEAST and FARM2FORK