41
its behavior is not necessarily predictable, because the principles and values
guiding the system’s function can change rapidly, unlike, for instance, the Law
of Gravity which is stable over time. For example, while people may be concerned about the impacts of climate change may understand the contribution of
driving large fuel-inefficient vehicles or having a diet heavy in meat consumption, only some will change their driving or eating behavior and then only modestly. However, when such concern becomes widely shared in a society, cultural
shifts can occur, leading to larger changes in perception and behavior.
2.3 Food Systems
In the narrow sense used in this book, food systems bring together the components
of the “food chain” or food supply chain path from production to processing, distribution, and consumption of nutritional substances that humans and their household
animal pets eat and drink. Generally, this is understood to include feed for agricultural animals. With the recent expansion of biofuels, and because our subject is the
FEW nexus, we include in food systems the production of plant ethanol and biodiesel. Because natural fibers are produced by the same plants and animals that
produce foodstuffs, as part of the same farming operations, food systems are considered to produce fiber also. In a broader sense, food systems integrate all of the
inputs, processes, conversions, infrastructure, outputs, uses, wastes, allocations, and
impacts of food, feed, fuel, and fiber. For example:
1. Food production affects what foods are produced, how they are produced, and
where. Food production (including seafood harvesting and aquaculture) integrates soils; land-use; ecosystem functioning; water movements and use; seeds
and animal stocks; fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides; climate; nutrient cycles;
energy use; agricultural practices and economics; labor relations; agricultural
and food processing machinery; farm management and operations; production
wastes and pollutants; manufacturing and processing corporations; public agricultural policies and food policies; farmer and consumer organizations; processing systems; and environmental policies and consequences.
2. Food distribution affects how certain foods are moved to where, who gains
access to them, and who benefits from the distribution. Food distribution includes
the economics and social organization and cultures of actors from farmers to
retailers and institutional food services; roads, rail; ports, refrigerated rail cars
and trucks, and other forms of transportation infrastructure; food marketing and
food service corporations and institutional food services; trade policies; and
other issues which shape how certain foods are moved and where to, who gains
access, who benefits, and how much.
3. Food consumption affects who gains access to what foods and the associated
nutrition. Food consumption includes issues of types of nutritional needs based
on demography and public health; food quality and preservation; affordability
2 Systems Science
its behavior is not necessarily predictable, because the principles and values
guiding the system’s function can change rapidly, unlike, for instance, the Law
of Gravity which is stable over time. For example, while people may be concerned about the impacts of climate change may understand the contribution of
driving large fuel-inefficient vehicles or having a diet heavy in meat consumption, only some will change their driving or eating behavior and then only modestly. However, when such concern becomes widely shared in a society, cultural
shifts can occur, leading to larger changes in perception and behavior.
2.3 Food Systems
In the narrow sense used in this book, food systems bring together the components
of the “food chain” or food supply chain path from production to processing, distribution, and consumption of nutritional substances that humans and their household
animal pets eat and drink. Generally, this is understood to include feed for agricultural animals. With the recent expansion of biofuels, and because our subject is the
FEW nexus, we include in food systems the production of plant ethanol and biodiesel. Because natural fibers are produced by the same plants and animals that
produce foodstuffs, as part of the same farming operations, food systems are considered to produce fiber also. In a broader sense, food systems integrate all of the
inputs, processes, conversions, infrastructure, outputs, uses, wastes, allocations, and
impacts of food, feed, fuel, and fiber. For example:
1. Food production affects what foods are produced, how they are produced, and
where. Food production (including seafood harvesting and aquaculture) integrates soils; land-use; ecosystem functioning; water movements and use; seeds
and animal stocks; fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides; climate; nutrient cycles;
energy use; agricultural practices and economics; labor relations; agricultural
and food processing machinery; farm management and operations; production
wastes and pollutants; manufacturing and processing corporations; public agricultural policies and food policies; farmer and consumer organizations; processing systems; and environmental policies and consequences.
2. Food distribution affects how certain foods are moved to where, who gains
access to them, and who benefits from the distribution. Food distribution includes
the economics and social organization and cultures of actors from farmers to
retailers and institutional food services; roads, rail; ports, refrigerated rail cars
and trucks, and other forms of transportation infrastructure; food marketing and
food service corporations and institutional food services; trade policies; and
other issues which shape how certain foods are moved and where to, who gains
access, who benefits, and how much.
3. Food consumption affects who gains access to what foods and the associated
nutrition. Food consumption includes issues of types of nutritional needs based
on demography and public health; food quality and preservation; affordability
2 Systems Science