A food system is a process by which our food goes from farm to fork. Having an effective food system is more about the success of farms and restaurants, as well as having a network of institutions and policies in place to promote farming as an industry.
These policies aren’t just about bringing food to the table. They are about providing food safely and reliably, with the least amount of damage to the environment.
Farmer Outlook
This aspect of food systems relies on those who work on the farms to produce our food. This is arguably the most important asset of any farming business since labour is the most vital resource for any industry. At this point, many farmers are elder males: something that needs to change.
A good farmer outlook also takes into account which portion of the general population are farmers, and how many farms exist per 100 residents. Outlook should identify the average size of a farm, as well as how many midsize family farms exist in a given area.
Food Production
Another consideration when examining the quality of food systems is how much food is produced, and what kinds. Much of food production is dominated by monocultures, meaning that most farms in an area or state produce only one type of crop.
It is also important to know what percentage of farms produce only fruits and vegetables, as well as crops that can be used as fuel or livestock feed. Identifying meat production per farm acre is another key feature of a good food system.
Reduced Resource Reliance
It requires quite a few resources to keep a farm going. Most of these resources are limited and are quickly being depleted. The amount of available resources on hand and how they are being used is something every farmer and food producer should be aware of. This is measured by the percentage of farms being treated with fertilizer and pesticides.
Environmental Impact
The impact of food production on the eco-system is an essential metric for the sustainability of a food system. Impact awareness allows you to reduce and control your impact, at least to a degree. Your use of water on a farm and the resulting water pollution is a big part of this. Soil erosion is also an issue, accumulating over time and threatening the viability of your land in the long term.
Conservation
Food systems must have provisions in place for conserving the land and environment. This is a tricky metric to cultivate because conserving the land means not using it for production. This means you will need to sacrifice immediate profit, for the ability to use your land for a longer period.
It is important to know which portion of your land is not being used, in comparison to farmland that is in use. The percentage of land using cover crops is also a good sign of how effective a food system is in terms of conservation.
Farm Investments
Farm investment accounts for both public and private investments in farming and related infrastructure. This relies partly on knowing how public funds are allocated, and how much of a priority farming is to your area or state. It can also be useful to familiarize oneself with particular programs oriented towards conservation, green practices, and farming innovation.
Conclusion
The intricacies of a food system should be understood by all farmers, to achieve effective approaches to agriculture and related sustainable practices. Studying associated metrics is the best way to achieve this.