Linking Agroecosystems to Food Systems

Abstract

It is essential for sustainability, no matter what system we have for food production, to have balance. Sustainability of farming systems has traditionally been one where economics and the environment are balanced; for long-term sustainability of agroecosystems, in which humans are central to the success, it is essential that we add a third concept to the balance, human health. The concept of balance can help us in our deliberations around analyzing a production input, a crop, a cropping system, a farming system, or even a value chain. The question we need to ask is whether whatever is being done produces a good balance of economics, environment, and human health. Agriculture and food are at the center of human health, economic, and environmental sustainability.

“Eventually we will realize that if we destroy the ecosystem we destroy ourselves.”

--- Jonas Salk