sustainability

Sustainability in the 21st Century:A University’s Role in Addressing Global Issues

A Presentation To The

EARTH University Faculty

January 30, 2013

Michigan State University

January 30, 2013

Rick FosterKellogg Professor of Food, Society and Sustainability


We seem to act We seem to act We seem to act We seem to act

like we still like we still like we still like we still

live in the 20live in the 20live in the 20live in the 20thththth

CenturyCenturyCenturyCentury

Abundance of Abundance of Abundance of Abundance of

resources…..resources…..resources…..resources…..

Little regard for Little regard for Little regard for Little regard for


Little regard for Little regard for Little regard for Little regard for

nature.....nature.....nature.....nature.....

Single discipline Single discipline Single discipline Single discipline

solution….. solution….. solution….. solution…..

Large margins for Large margins for Large margins for Large margins for

error…..error…..error…..error…..

Build on the Past – Create the future

Yesterday is part of our history – worthy of knowing and learning from, but not the place we will live;

Today is the current reality that is the knowledge platform from which we consider future directions and needed actions; and


platform from which we consider future directions and needed actions; and

Tomorrow is the unwritten story where all is possible –built on innovation and creativity

BUT-Thankfully-----

Tomorrow can be what we need it


Tomorrow can be what we need it

to be --- what we want it to be

Our focus will go from Local to Global and back to Connected Global Systems that have local impact


Assumptions for Today’s Communities Quality of life is influenced by global connections, but few

communities themselves are truly connected

Current formal systems are failing (i.e. health care, industrial

food systems, environment, education, economic frameworks,

etc.)


Issues are addressed in isolation, using primarily specialized

knowledge and approaches which are unique to the issue

Self-interests prevail around policy and funding ,and self-interests

are organized around specializations

Assumptions for 21st Century Communities o Local people and communities are linked globally for learning and development

o Citizen participation in science, governance, global, social and economic systems is the norm

o Innovation and creative solution-finding are widely accepted approaches to difficult issues

o Natural Resources are social and economic drivers


o Natural Resources are social and economic drivers

o Greening and sustainability metrics are common indicators of success

o Issues are addressed in an integrative manner for greater and more durable change

o New knowledge comes from the connections of known knowledge systems as well as from new discovery

Assumptions for Today’s Universities Largely disconnected in a connected world

Emphasis is on incremental advancement of specialized

knowledge within defined disciplines


Optimizes the individual rather than the institution

Limited collaboration with non-familiar partners

Rigid and formal support structures

The Public University of the Future

� Dynamic collaboration across boundaries

� Work is accomplished in cross-disciplinary teams with deeply

connected knowledge platforms

� Sustainability and engagement will be at the core of their

work


work

� A sustainable framework for dynamic growth with a focus on

change and innovation

� Optimizes the institution as part of a vast knowledge system

Major Challenges of the 21st Century

Food

Energy

Water


Water

Population

Climate

What Do We Believe About?


Sustainability lies at the interface –in the space between connections


What Are Connected Knowledge Platforms?

Knowledge Platforms are the intellectual

underpinnings of disciplinary knowledge derived

from traditional and predictable sources over time


Connected Knowledge Platforms are the flexible

interface of one or more disciplinary platforms,

such that each significantly modifies or impacts

the expected outcome of the others

Knowledge Platforms in A Global Food System


Example: Four Knowledge Platforms


Four Knowledge Platforms Coming Together

Urban

Convergence

Natural

Resource

Ceilings

New Definition

New Invention


Food Related

Chronic

Health

Food

Insecurity

New Invention

New Knowledge

New Innovation

New Opportunity

Major Challenges of the 21st Century

�Energy

�Water

�Food


�Food

�Urban Convergence

Underpinning Assumption

How we choose to grow, How we choose to grow, How we choose to grow, How we choose to grow,

process, transport and process, transport and process, transport and process, transport and

consume our food will have consume our food will have consume our food will have consume our food will have

the most dramatic impact on the most dramatic impact on the most dramatic impact on the most dramatic impact on


the most dramatic impact on the most dramatic impact on the most dramatic impact on the most dramatic impact on

the quality of life for you, the quality of life for you, the quality of life for you, the quality of life for you,

me me me me ---- ---- and future generations and future generations and future generations and future generations

of the 21of the 21of the 21of the 21stststst Century……Century……Century……Century……

2050 Global Scenario:

o 9.3 billion people

o 70% live in cities

Must double food


o Must double food

production

o Must use less

energy and less

water than today

This Might Mean:

� Calories from global agriculture

� Nutrition from local agriculture/food systems

The 2050 Scenario


� Reliance on food, water, energy integration

� Reliance on indoor food growing systems

� Pressures on climate change and water resources

EARTHEARTH UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY

Uniquely positioned as a global leader in sustainability science, education, and practice…...


EARTH’s MissionEARTH’s Mission

Prepare leaders with ethical values to contribute to the sustainable development of the humid tropics and to construct a prosperous and just society.


society.

EARTH’s Core ValuesEthical Values

Fairness and Honesty

Technical and Scientific Knowledge

Untiring Effort for Improvement

Entrepreneurial Spirit


Entrepreneurial Spirit

Cooperation – Team Spirit

Social/Environmental Awareness

Contribution to Society

Green Innovation

EARTH University GraduatesEARTH University GraduatesCommon CharacteristicsCommon Characteristics

• Ethical and human interactions

• Academic excellence

• Leadership for the region/world

• Agricultural content expertise

• Entrepreneurial spirit


• Social commitment and responsibility

• Environmental activism

• Achievement through teamwork

• Entrepreneurial spirit

EARTH University’s Unique Approach to EARTH University’s Unique Approach to Curriculum IntegrationCurriculum Integration

Work Experience

Entrepreneurial Venture

Course Projects


Community Engagement and Development

Internship Program

Professional Experience

Graduation Project

Michigan State University Michigan State University

Proposal in Brief

•The MetroFoodPlus Innovation Cluster @ Detroit will develop an innovation infrastructure to support specific and actionable innovation projects to design and commercialize the new food, agriculture and integrated energy and water systems to serve the global metropolitan regions of the


systems to serve the global metropolitan regions of the world, including Detroit.

• The systems needed to feed a 2050 world population of over 9 billion—70% living in cities—do not exist today.

The Detroit metropolitan region can become a leader in a network of global metropolitan regions tackling the reinvention of metropolitan food, agriculture and integrated resource systems. The ability to lead arises from a combination of:

� availability of natural resources, such as land, water and renewable energy;

� current availability of urban space – blighted and abandoned land and buildings;

� Detroit’s legacy as an engineering and manufacturing city;


� Detroit’s legacy as an engineering and manufacturing city;

� a multi-stakeholder coalition of business, government, societal/community organizations and higher education/knowledge institutions willing to partner; and

� connection to a network of global cities for sharing knowledge, resources and programs.

o The outputs of the Innovation Cluster would be:

• New integrated systems of systems

• New technologies for growing, processing and exporting future food

• New business and commercial starts (new jobs)

• New organizational approaches to implementing systems,

technologies and enterprises

o As a result of producing these outputs

• Blighted areas will be rehabilitated to productive use


• Blighted areas will be rehabilitated to productive use

• Economic development will be stimulated

• Entrepreneurial food and food-related enterprises (large and small)

will be created and/or enhanced

• Food security and community empowerment will be dramatically

enhanced

So What Is Our Role?

What is Our Responsibility?Think Big

Connect Knowledge Platforms

Look For Game Changers

Make a DifferenceMake a Difference

Accept the Challenge

Be the Change

Myles and Jillian


sustainability

Education

bemichigan state university

public university

earth university faculty

global systems

disciplinary platforms

global connections

global scenario

sustainability science