Agriculture remains the most essential endeavor of mankind. Many things have changed through our history, but the production of food and fiber is one critical activity that no society on Earth can ignore. Moreover, we treasure agriculture for many reasons beyond its role in producing food for our tables: the ecosystem services it provides-such as groundwater recharge-and its contributions to the economic and social fabric of rural communities, scenic countrysides, and our heritage.

In many ways, farming still represents what is right and good with our culture. But paradoxically, agriculture can be a significant cause of degradation of air, water, land, and climate. The impacts of livestock agriculture are of particular concern.

Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences announced this spring that it would more fully address the compelling environmental dimensions of agriculture with the creation of the Agriculture and Environment Science and Policy Center under the college's Environment and Natural Resources Institute. James Shortle, institute director, points out that worldwide, agriculture has an effect on the environment at least as important as any other human activity.  

“The creation of the environmental institute was an expression of Penn State’s recognition that the environmental implications of agriculture are of enormous importance,” he says. “The influence of agriculture on the environment—both good and otherwise—cannot be downplayed.”