Health from the Soil Up

Farms shape our health through nutrients, soil, water, air, climate, economy, and community. Given the close links among our health, the food we grow, how we grow them, and how we process and distribute them, it is surprising how little collaboration there is between medicine and agriculture. This needs to change to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer; build health equity; offer nutrient-dense food to a growing population; and protect and restore the environment for the long-term health of our species.

This program helps practitioners, policy makers, educators, researchers, and innovators in medicine, public health, nutrition, and agriculture explore “common ground” to find solutions that nourish people by nourishing the soil. Participants will learn about the complex workings of our food production and distribution systems and their effects on human health. They will acquire a foundational vocabulary, an understanding of the existing science, and a set of tools that enable them to begin to work together to build “health-centered” agriculture.