Innovations in Organic Food Systems for Sustainable Production and Ecosystem Services: An Introduction to the Special Issue of Sustainable Agriculture Research

Abstract

Organic agriculture is one of the best developed multifunctional production strategies in agriculture, and yet is not widely understood in terms of its full potential for contributing to food security, economic development, and environmental health. This special edition of the journal Sustainable Agriculture Research explores the knowledge, innovations, potentials, and research needs that will strengthen the links between organic food systems, sustainable production, and enhanced ecosystem services. The following articles are from an international conference titled “Innovations in Organic Food Systems for Sustainable Production and Ecosystem Services,” held on 1-2 November 2014 in Long Beach, California. The conference was co-sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Co-operative Research Programme on Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, the International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS), the United Stated Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA).