Location: Food Systems Research Unit
Title: Using models to study food systemsAuthor
Peters, Christian | |
THILMANY, DAWN - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY |
Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2021 Publication Date: 1/8/2022 Citation: Peters, C.J. and Thilmany, D.D. 2022. Using models to study food systems. In: Peters, C.J., Thilmany, D.D., editors. Food Systems Modeling: Tools for Assessing Sustainability in Food and Agriculture. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press. p. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822112-9.00013-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822112-9.00013-8 Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: A model simplifies the world in a way that helps you to understand how some part of the world works. Food systems are messy networks of people attempting to produce, process, package, distribute, prepare, and sell food. These systems involve many actors with different roles working within the limits posed by the natural world, such as imposed by weather, and the confines of the rules of human institutions, such as markets. Given this complexity, models are an important tool to study food systems. This chapter briefly reviews the role models play in science, the types of models used to study food systems, and common issues with using models as a mode of inquiry. Introductory in nature, this chapter also explains the layout of subsequent chapters and offers insight to both the novice and the seasoned modeler on how to approach the book. |