Farming and food systems as social-ecological systems: integrated assessment

for resilience and adaptive capacity

Journal Club of Life Sciences, Nov. 4th 2010. Brian Lassen. Estonian University of Life Sciences

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Beginning with the end

Previous cultures reasons for collapsing1. Deforestation and habitat destruction

2. Soil problems3. Water management problems

4. Overhunting5. Overfishing

6. Introduced species effect on native species7. Human population growth

8. Increased per-capita impact of people

New „swing door effects“ for our ageGlobalization

Modern medicinePotent technology

Greater knowledge of past societies

The Nutshell

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Sociologist - people

Ecologist – no people

The systems are not separete!

Socio-Ecological Systems (SES)(cross-diciplinary research)

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Models to handle complexity

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Language Variables Weight Time

Panarchy

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Mayan empire

Failed crops

Return to tribes

Stability

Panarchy

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Elections Life Cycle

Law Herd/Colony

Constitution Adaptation/dominant species

Party/conditions

Law Herd/Colony

Stability/advantage

Third element - economy

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SES diagram

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Integrated Assessment (AI) diagram

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Example of IA programSEAMLESS (AI of agricultural systems)

www.seamless-ip.org

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Interesting concept of „adaptablility“

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www.Urban-Scavenger.com

Ressources

Living areas

Behaviour

Student example of project

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Can innovations in agricultural trading systems lead to cost internalisation and improve ecological, social, and

economical sustainablity?

Student example of project

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ConceptualModel

Sustainability?

Life Cycle Assesment(Cooperate) Social Responsibility

Socio-Economic

Labor (database)Income (database)

Consumer value (interview, 12 months)Landscape value (interview, 12 months)

Consumer action (diary)

EcologicalPhosphorus (on site)

Nitrogen (on site)Biodiversity (on site)Energy use (on site)

Soil Organic Matter (on site)Water consumption/pollution (on site)

Crop rotation (on site)

Variable are assigned thresholds according to sustainable definitions

Student example of project

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Social

Ecological Economical

iPhone

Ecological home farming

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Thank you!

Previous cultures reasons for collapsing1. Deforestation and habitat destruction

2. Soil problems3. Water management problems

4. Overhunting5. Overfishing

6. Introduced species effect on native species7. Human population growth

8. Increased per-capita impact of people

New „swing door effects“ for our ageGlobalization

Modern medicinePotent technology

Greater knowledge of past societies