You Can’t Improve What You Don’t Measure: The Data Shaping U.S. Food Systems

You can't improve what you don't measure. When it comes to productivity in the workplace, you need to measure your performance.

Food systems are complicated and ridiculous. They include everything from farming to food production to food sales to food distribution. Everyone in the United States eats, so the question is, who eats what? How much of what? Who has the most influence in the food system? What’s the biggest impact on these systems? Many people think that these food systems exist in a vacuum and that there is no way to measure them. This is an incorrect view and it’s not as true as it sounds.

Data has been the driving force in food systems management for decades. In addition to regulatory and journalistic reporting, food and agriculture statistics have also been used extensively as a source of information on how food is produced, consumed and managed. Drawing on data culled from government agencies, academic institutions and the private sector, this report examines how these systems help shape national food security, meet consumer demand, and ensure that food is used in unique ways to support economic growth.

The U.S. food system is fast becoming a national crisis, with millions of people unable to access fresh, healthy food. Food and nutrition security is at the heart of the nation’s food crisis. The U.S. has the world’s largest number of hungry people, and is responsible for most of the world’s food-related pollution. The U.S. food system is failing to meet the world’s growing need for healthy, nutritious food.

In 2010, the U.S. food system was identified as a key driver for the economic crisis. In this report, the authors examine the food supply chain and its impact on the resilience of the U.S. economy. The authors examine the implications for both consumers and producers, including the role of government policy, market structure, and food processing in a fragmented food system where economies are increasingly local, supply chains are increasingly complex, and farm labor is increasingly vulnerable.

The Census is conducted every 5 years, and you can get the results in a few months. The next Census will be conducted on April 1, 2020. It's the most comprehensive information about the farmers, ranchers and agri-people who work on farms. It includes information on things such as housing and number of acres worked, as well as a lot of other information.

USDA Census of Agriculture is the statistical survey which provides the annual supply and demand of agricultural commodities in the nation

Americans are always looking for ways to stay informed and connected, and now they can with the Country Factbook 2009. In this always-updated reference book, you’ll find everything from farmers’ market listings to the names of all the U.S. states, as well as things to know if you’re interested in learning about climate change, the effect of invasive species, or how to make a small investment that can make a big difference.

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