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Why Do We Need Food Systems Informatics? Introduction to This Special Collection on Smart and Connected Regional Food Systems

Author

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  • Thomas P. Tomich

    (Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Casey Hoy

    (Department of Entomology, Agroecosystems Management Program, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Michael R. Dimock

    (Roots of Change, Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA 94607, USA)

  • Allan D. Hollander

    (Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Patrick R. Huber

    (Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Ayaz Hyder

    (College of Public Health and Translational Data Analytics Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Matthew C. Lange

    (International Center for Food Ontology Operability Data and Semantics (IC-FOODS), Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Courtney M. Riggle

    (Food Systems Lab, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
    International Center for Food Ontology Operability Data and Semantics (IC-FOODS), Davis, CA 95616, USA)

  • Michael T. Roberts

    (Resnick Program for Food Law and Policy, UCLA School of Law, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • James F. Quinn

    (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA)

Abstract

Public interest in where food comes from and how it is produced, processed, and distributed has increased over the last few decades, with even greater focus emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mounting evidence and experience point to disturbing weaknesses in our food systems’ abilities to support human livelihoods and wellbeing, and alarming long-term trends regarding both the environmental footprint of food systems and mounting vulnerabilities to shocks and stressors. How can we tackle the “wicked problems” embedded in a food system? More specifically, how can convergent research programs be designed and resulting knowledge implemented to increase inclusion, sustainability, and resilience within these complex systems, support widespread contributions to and acceptance of solutions to these challenges, and provide concrete benchmarks to measure progress and understand tradeoffs among strategies along multiple dimensions? This article introduces and defines food systems informatics (FSI) as a tool to enhance equity, sustainability, and resilience of food systems through collaborative, user-driven interaction, negotiation, experimentation, and innovation within food systems. Specific benefits we foresee in further development of FSI platforms include the creation of capacity-enabling verifiable claims of sustainability, food safety, and human health benefits relevant to particular locations and products; the creation of better incentives for the adoption of more sustainable land use practices and for the creation of more diverse agro-ecosystems; the wide-spread use of improved and verifiable metrics of sustainability, resilience, and health benefits; and improved human health through better diets.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas P. Tomich & Casey Hoy & Michael R. Dimock & Allan D. Hollander & Patrick R. Huber & Ayaz Hyder & Matthew C. Lange & Courtney M. Riggle & Michael T. Roberts & James F. Quinn, 2023. "Why Do We Need Food Systems Informatics? Introduction to This Special Collection on Smart and Connected Regional Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:8:p:6556-:d:1122008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Allan D. Hollander & Casey W. Hoy & Kevin S. Armstrong & Michael R. Dimock & Patrick R. Huber & Douglas Jackson-Smith & James F. Quinn & Courtney M. Riggle & Thomas P. Tomich, 2023. "Workflows for Knowledge Co-Production—Meat and Dairy Processing in Ohio and Northern California," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Abdulhakim S. Alburaidi & Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani & Mohammed M. Aljuaid & Abdullah S. Almuhaidly & Krzysztof Goniewicz, 2023. "Sustainable Resilience in Healthcare Delivery: A Comparative Study on Safety Awareness in Hospital-Based and Pre-Hospital EMS in Times of Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Patrick R. Huber & Matthew Baker & Allan D. Hollander & Matthew Lange & Daphne Miller & James F. Quinn & Courtney Riggle & Thomas P. Tomich, 2023. "Linking Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing in Systematic Conservation Assessments of Working Landscapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, June.

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