VANCOUVER - One of the world’s leading voices on the intersection of food systems theory and the art of just enjoying a damn good meal will be in Vancouver Saturday.

At a fundraiser to preserve the UBC Farm, Michael Pollan, author of bestsellers The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, will sign books and elaborate upon his manifesto for eating: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants”.

The 1 p.m. event will include guided tours of the UBC Farm and live music and entertainment. Attendees are encouraged to arrive with blankets and picnic lunches. Organizers say some tickets are left. The $45 cost includes GST and copy of In Defense of Food (more info here).

The UBC Farm in the southeast corner of the campus had been considered for redevelopment into a housing project, and if put to that purpose the land’s value has been estimated to be as high as $200 million.

But following on a study that identified the 24-hectare parcel as an important urban green space and site for learning, UBC President Stephen Toope has voiced support for keeping the UBC farm intact.

Backers of the farm say they want it to be a showcase of sustainable practices promoting food security through local agriculture.

Pollan, who teaches at the University of California at Berkeley School of Journalism, is making Vancouver his only Canadian stop on his tour promoting the paperback edition of In Defense of Food.

David Beers is editor of The Tyee.