In an age of unprecedented levels of  food production, little about the industrial production model refined in the United States, and becoming increasingly dominant throughout the world, is critically analyzed to reveal its hidden costs. How we produce our food, however, has public health implications to consumers as well as rural communities. Industrial agricultural methods can profoundly impact the natural environment – soil, air, and water - which are the basic ingredients for this and future generations to sustain themselves. Even in the short term, many current agricultural practices translate directly into health and socioeconomic costs.

The Farming for the Future Program places particular emphasis on the connections between how we produce our food, the public’s health, and the health of the environment. The Program includes projects that focus on documenting the impacts of industrial agricultural practices and promoting sustainable alternatives. Expertise among faculty, staff, and graduate students throughout the University is utilized to advance scientific knowledge, communicate findings, develop educational tools, and serve as a resource for collaborators within academia and the non-profit arena.