Much of the research for the book was done in 2014-15, when Barack Obama was U.S. president, although the narrative begins with developments and policies following the 2008 food price crisis, during the last year of former President George W. Bush.
Utafiti mwingi wa kitabu hicho ulifanyika mwaka wa 2014-15, wakati Barack Obama alipokuwa rais wa Marekani, ingawa simulizi huanza na maendeleo na sera kufuatia mgogoro wa bei ya chakula wa 2008, wakati wa mwaka wa mwisho wa Rais wa zamani George W. Bush.