Developing Resilient Agrifood and Forest Systems

Agrifood and forest systems are vital for meeting a wide range of human and societal needs such as the production of food, biomass (e.g., timber, energy crops) but also cultural ecosystem services (e.g., recreation). The global bioeconomy does not only constitute an important part of the world economy, but also employs a significant part of the workforce, particularly in countries of the Global South. Agrifood and forest systems are faced with an increasing number of challenges, including climate change, unprecedented biodiversity losses, threats from invasive species, water, air and soil pollution, and land use competition (e.g., from urbanisation). 

Agrifood and forest systems are closely linked to the Resource Nexus as their production is based on several other environmental resources (e.g., water, soil, biota, space, energy). At the same time, they may play both a beneficial role (e.g., preserving soil structure and fertility, regulating regional hydrology) as well as lead to water and soil pollution and the degradation of soil and natural landcover. The combination of finite resources and increasing resource demand leads to increasing resource prices and regional/temporal resource shortages, underlining the necessity for more efficient resource utilisation. At the same time, with a growing world population, the demand for food and timber is likely to increase, as is land use competition for other purposes.