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Alfred E. Heller Professor of Agroecology B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
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My teaching area focuses on agroecology, sustainable agriculture, organic gardening, and ethnobotany, but also includes California natural history, botany and ecology. My research is carried out within the framework of agroecology, defined as the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable food systems. My primary research is focused on the identification, measurement, and monitoring of the ecological components of sustainability in agriculture, and the connection of these components to the economic and social aspects of long-term food system design and management. Research projects are in progress on the conversion of conventional cropping systems to ecologically-based management, the interface between agroecosystems and natural ecosystems, the development of alternative food networks that directly link producers and consumers, and the sustainability of traditional farming systems in developing countries. I frequently lead and/or coordinate international short courses and training programs in agroecology, with a focus on strengthening the connection between agroecological knowledge and the sustainability of agricultural communities.
Contact Stephen R. Gliessman by email: gliess@ucsc.edu |