Whitfield, S, Benton, T, Dallimer, M et al. (4 more authors) (2015) Sustainability spaces for complex agri-food systems. Food Security, 7 (6). pp. 1291-1297. ISSN 1876-4517
Abstract
As a result of the complexity of agri-food systems, popularly-supported ‘win-win’ solutions rarely result in wholly satisfactory outcomes. We draw on documented cases of the introduction of agricultural input subsidies; the intensification of livestock production; and the development of genetically modified crop varieties as examples of agri-food systems in which there are multiple interconnected sustainability priorities and inevitable conflicts. Generic or narrowly conceived goals may not fully reflect the multiple and conflicting dimensions of sustainability that are relevant to such cases. There is a need to advance established multiple-win agendas, such as sustainable intensification and climate smart agriculture, to more fully reflect this complexity. We propose the use of the sustainability space concept for defining and monitoring sustainability priorities that might become the basis for effective management of complex systems. We further outline the challenge of defining and monitoring these priorities, which will require carefully designed, interdisciplinary and participatory research agendas.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht and International Society for Plant Pathology 2015. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Food Security. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12571-015-0512-3 |
Keywords: | Sustainability; Agri-food systems; Complexity |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 20 Oct 2015 11:07 |
Last Modified: | 24 Oct 2016 17:12 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12571-015-0512-3 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Verlag |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s12571-015-0512-3 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:91000 |