Regional Grower Perspectives on Diversified Farming Systems: costs, benefits and obstacles

The Berkeley Institute of the Environment (BIE) will host Roundtables on Diversified Farming Systems (DFS), a series of eight interactive sessions that brings together an interdisciplinary group of researchers, writers and practitioners focused on the efficacy and complexities of multi-functional agriculture. The goal is to engage in incisive dialogue on the current scientific understanding of the ecology, sociology and economics of diversified farming systems, and to identify knowledge gaps leading to development of research proposals and new scholarly work. By exploring the private and social costs and benefits of multi-functional DFS, the intent is to identify new pathways for redirecting agricultural development toward greater ecological and social sustainability. All interested members of the community are invited.