From the University of Western Australia (UWA), this beginner-level, online course may be of interest to agriculturalists, farmers, and even home gardeners concerned about the environmental impact of growing food. The course is taught by Graeme Martin of UWA, who has not only thoroughly studied agriculture and sustainability, but grew up in a farming family in Western Australia. The course...

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's three main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of...

This online "open" book was edited by world renowned experts Peter H. Raven and Tania Williams and was produced in 2000 by the Committee for the Second Forum on Biodiversity (National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council). Available for browsing only, the document spans nine chapters -- from "Defining Biodiversity" to "Examples of Sustainability."

Released on February 14, 2001, this report from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) "is the first comprehensive audit of the world agriculture's ability to provide sufficient food, goods and services that are vital for sustaining human life." The 95-page study warns that world food production is at risk from farming methods that have...

J.I. Rodale was into organic farming for many decades before it became a bit more "hip". The Rodale Institute has been doing research on organic farming versus conventional farming for over 60 years, and their website is aimed at farmers, gardeners, and the general public alike. The "New Farm" link is the online incarnation of their print publication that has been providing "farmer-to-farmer...

The sustainable agriculture and food movement continues to garner attention from many quarters, and the focus of this site is to educate consumers about the many aspects of supporting such efforts in their own homes. Appropriately enough, the centerpiece of the homepage is in fact a dining table. From this virtual table, the different sections of the site (such as "An Introduction to...

The Organic Center is a great website that focuses on the science behind organic agricultural production. Their mission is "to generate credible, peer reviewed scientific information and communicate the verifiable benefits of organic farming and products to society." Under the "State of Science" tab at the top of the page visitors should check out the "Hot Science" section. The articles listed...

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has gone above and beyond in crafting this multimedia book that brings together full color photo illustrations and linked video and audio files. The work was finished in 2009, and it "describes the ecological basis of food and agriculture, the social and environmental costs of modern food systems, and the policy reversals needed to...

The Food and Environment program was developed by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to help "create a food system that encourages innovative and environmentally sustainable ways to produce high-quality, safe, and affordable food, while ensuring that citizens have a voice in how their food is grown." The Food and Environment website provides information about three UCS focus areas: Antibiotic...

This Executive Summary produced by Jules Pretty and Rachel Hine of the University of Essex in February 2001 provides a summary of evidence from the SAFE-World Research Project. This extensive report includes background reasons for the study such as global food security challenges, information about sustainable agriculture, project methodology, summary of projects and evidence, and conclusions. A...