Food

Worldwatch research on food and agriculture starts from the premise that farming is about more than producing food. Sustainably practiced, agriculture contributes to environmental protection, economic sustainability and rural welfare. Today's dominant farming systems produce in abundance, but they typically deplete soils, poison land and waterways, depend heavily on fossil fuels, and jeopardize the livelihoods of small farmers. The Institute's research stresses the potential of agriculture to serve the public interest by protecting ecosystems, ensuring that no one goes hungry, and providing a stable economic base for rural communities. Future food-related research at Worldwatch will look at ways of making food systems more localized, and at the prospects for urban farming.