Fritz Haber & Carl Bosch: The Science Behind Modern Food Production - MIT Press Book on Agricultural Innovation | Perfect for History of Science Readers & Agriculture Enthusiasts

No other technology of the 20th Century had more effect on raising the standard of living of the people of the world than the synthesis of ammonia which allowed the population to be several times higher than it otherwise would have been and also greatly reduced hunger and malnutrition in most parts of the world.The book begins with the early science of chemistry and the development of a basic understanding of crop nutrition and the role of nitrogen in the early 1800's. After nitrogen's vital role was established a fertilizer industry based on guano and later Chilean nitrates, but supplies were being depleted. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers were developed in the late 1800's, but the processes were very costly.Fritz Haber built on the works of other chemists and eventually determined conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst) whereby ammonia could be synthesized from hydrogen and nitrogen with a satisfactory yield. The process required high pressures and elevated temperatures which had never been used on an industrial scale before. It was Carl Bosch, a chemical engineer, who believed the process could be commercialized, and proceeded to develop the field of high pressure chemistry.This is an excellent semi-technical book because: 1) subject matter importance, 2) overall it was interesting because it is part historical, part biographical, part popular science, 3) it is exceptionally well researched and documented. However, while it was very easy for a chemical engineer like myself to read, I am not sure it would be appreciated by someone without a similar background, although the sections pertaining to the use of nitrogen fertilizers may be of interest to those involved with agriculture. Also, it is highly recommended to economists involved with the impacts of technology on the economy.