The way we produce food has serious implications for public health. Agricultural production methods can adversely affect the quality of our soil, air and water, and also contribute to; biodiversity loss and climate change. These same methods can result in hazards for workers,local communities, and consumers – due to contaminants in their food. Health professionals and health advocates are increasingly recognizing these concerns.
Recommended resources on this topic:
(See also: Other Browse by Subject topics for resources that focus on specific issues that link public health and agriculture.)
Reports & Other Documents
Toward a Healthy, Sustainable Food System – Policy Statement.
American Public Health Association, November 2007.
Food and Nutrition Professionals Can Implement Practices to Conserve Natural Resources and Support Ecological Sustainability
American Dietetic Association, June 2007.
World agriculture: towards 2030/2050 – Prospects for food, nutrition, agriculture and major commodity groups
Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.), June 2006.
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Understanding the Links between Agriculture and Health
International Food Policy Research Institute, May 2006.
Cultivating Common Ground: Linking Health and Sustainable Agriculture
Prevention Institute, September 2004.
Ethical Issues in Food and Agriculture
Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.), 2001.
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Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
Human health problems associated with current agricultural food production
R.V. Bhat. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr; 2008.
Agriculture and health: overview, themes, and moving forward
C. Hawkes, et al. Food Nutr Bull, June 2007.
The links between agriculture and health: an intersectoral opportunity to improve the health and livelihoods of the poor
C. Hawkes and M. Ruel. Bull World Health Organ, December 2006.
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Public health implications of meat production and consumption
P. Walker, et al. Public Health Nutr, June 2005.
How Sustainable Agriculture Can Address the Environmental and Human Health Harms of Industrial Agriculture
L. Horrigan, et al. Environ Health Perspect, May 2002.
A New Conceptual Base for Food and Agricultural Policy: The Emerging Model of Links between Agriculture, Food, Health, Environment and Society
D. Waltner-Toews and T. Lang. Global Change Hum Health, December 2000.
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Relevant Organizations
American Public Health Association
Community Food Security Coalition
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
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Institute for Food and Development Policy/Food First
International Food Policy Research Institute
Sustainable Table
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
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Additional Tools & Resources
Food Production, Public Health and the Environment
Free lecture materials from Johns Hopkins Open Courseware project.
What You Eat Affects Climate Change
Fact sheet by Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.
“The Agriculture-Public Health Connection”
Lecture by Robert Lawrence at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 2007.
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Links to State Departments of Public Health and Agriculture
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