Advancing knowledge and practice on economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable agricultural systems in urbanized landscapes.
Agricultural Sustainability in Urbanized Landscapes
Issue
Agricultural systems located in metropolitan counties and in non-metropolitan counties adjacent to metro areas are vital to the sustainability of agriculture. More than 60% of net farm income in the United States in 2017 came from these urbanized landscapes and, in Pennsylvania, it was 93%. Communities and consumers in urbanized landscapes value agriculture for locally produced foods, open space and scenery amenities, recreational opportunities such as agritourism, and wildlife habitats. However, the sustainability of agricultural systems in urbanized landscapes is threatened by intensifying competition for land, labor, and water from urban growth and sprawl, and by water pollution, livestock odors, pests, and dust from agricultural activities.
Compared to more rural areas, agricultural systems in urbanized landscapes are characterized by higher rates of land use change, relatively high land values, higher value agricultural products, a more diverse mix of crop and livestock products, more intensive production practices, products destined more for local and regional consumption than distant markets, and better infrastructure, but often sparser networks of input suppliers and food processors. Zoning and other land use regulations, farmland preservation policies, and environmental policies also play a greater role in urbanized landscapes.
The research, education, outreach, and extension on this Critical Issue Initiative are proceeding with close stakeholder engagement using a shared discovery and co-learning process. This stakeholder engagement is designed to create a bridge between research and practical application by improving research relevance and stakeholder knowledge and practices.
Convener
Patrick Drohan, Ph.D.
Professor of Pedology
Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management
Associated Members
Associates
- Dave Abler, Professor of Agricultural, Environmental, and Regional Economics and Demography
- Austin Brown, Extension Specialist, Small Ruminant Production & Management
- Melik Demirel, Huck Chair & Professor of Biomimetics*
- Heather Grab, Assistant Professor, Entomology
- Michele Grinar, Assistant Teaching Professor, Biology
- Margaret Hoffman, Assistant Professor, Landscape Contracting*
- Weiyun Hua, Assistant Teaching Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
- Ran Li, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness Management
- Cibin Raj, Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Biological Engineering*
- Matthew Royer, Assistant Research Professor, Director Agriculture & Environment Center*
- Josephine Wee, Assistant Professor, Food Science*
Affiliates
- Flor Acevedo, Assistant Professor, Entomology/Arthropod Ecology*
- Bishwodeep Adhikari, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
- Natalie Boyle, Assistant Research Professor*
- Elizabeth Boyer, Professor, Water Resources*
- Danny Brent, Assistant Professor, Environmental Economics*
- Eric Burkhart, Associate Teaching Professor, Ecosystem Science and Management*
- Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Extension Education*
- Christine Costello, Assistant Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
- Francesco Di Gioia, Assistant Professor, Vegetable Crop Science*
- Jill Felker, Lecturer, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Long He, Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Biological Engineering*
- Sara Hermann, Assistant Professor, Arthropod Ecology & Trophic Interactions*
- Amy Kwasnicki, Extension Educator
- Michael Mashtare, Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Biological Engineering*
- Fameena Pandara Valappil, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- Rui Shi, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering*
Related Penn State Projects
- Thriving Agricultural Systems in Urbanized Landscapes: ThrivingAg.org
