Abstract

Using GIS as a tool to promote sustainable commodity sourcing
Track: Agriculture
Authors: Prashant Hedao

Population growth in combination with increased per capita consumption levels will strain human and ecological systems. Interest in developing appropriate measures that maximize conservation and agricultural production are reflected in contemporary discussions over "land-sharing" and "land-sparing" practices, agro-ecological intensification and land use optimization.
Large multinational food corporations will wield increased influence over agricultural production practices. This influence can be leveraged to encourage more sustainable practices. Sustainable production practices will also need to improve farmer livelihoods through increased profit sharing and sustainable intensification
GIS provides a platform through which corporate and other actors may examine social, ecological and economic aspects of global commodity. We have collected a suite of spatial data layers that shed light on different aspects of commodity production and that meet specified minimum inclusion criteria. We will describe our layer selection methodology, present our preliminary GIS analysis. Data layers used are at national and global scales.