Agriculture, and the food it produces, is the foundation of a stable and healthy society and its importance cannot be understated. Agriculture and food systems use land and water resources and impacts the planet on many levels. While we currently produce and harvest sufficient food globally, food insecurity still impacts over 780 million people including over 15 million Americans. In early 2017, an estimated 20 million people – over twice the population of New Jersey– were experiencing severe food shortages and potential famine in Africa. Addressing food insecurity now is important but we must also prepare for the larger challenges facing us. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, global food demand is predicted to increase by 60 percent between 2006 and 2050. Also during this time period, the world is likely to experience rapid urbanization and population growth, aging farmer populations resulting in labor shortages, urban income growth, changing consumer demand, as well as continued greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, fresh water limitation, fluctuating farm incomes, food safety concerns, and weather extremes. How will we meet this growing demand for food while at the same time move toward sustainability and resiliency as advocated by the Sustainability Development Goals?

Dr. Morin take a systems approach to studying local, regional and global food systems. She is interested in identifying what research, innovations, investments, education, management practices, policies, and social adaptations, we need to develop in order to feed the world with reduced environmental impact, and with increased biodiversity, sustainability, resiliency, economic viability, and health for all as our goals.