ABSTRACT
This chapter has the goal of illustrating examples of multi-scale integrated analysis of societal metabolism that are relevant for the analysis of the sustainability of agroecosystems. In particular, Section 9.1 illustrates the application of impredicative loop analysis (ILA) at the level of the whole country using in parallel different typologies of variables. In this way, one can visualize the existence of a set of reciprocal constraints affecting the dynamic equilibrium of societal metabolism. That is, feasible solutions for the dynamic budget represented using a four-angle Þgure can only be obtained by coordinated changes of the characteristics of parts in relation to the characteristics of the whole, and changes in the characteristics of the whole in relation to the characteristics of the parts. Section 9.2 provides the results of an empirical validation based on a data set covering more than 100 countries (including more than 90% of the world population) of this idea. In particular, such an analysis shows that an integrated set of indicators derived from ILA makes it possible to (1) establish a bridge between economic and biophysical readings of technical progress and (2) represent the effect of development in parallel on different hierarchical levels and scales. Section 9.3 deals with the link between changes occurring at the level of the whole country (society) and changes in the deÞnition of feasibility for the agricultural sector. That is, socioeconomic entities in charge of agricultural production must be compatible with their socioeconomic context. This implies the existence of a set of biophysical constraints on the intensity of the ßow of produced output. Finally, Section 9.4 deals with trend analysis of technical changes in agriculture. Changes in the socioeconomic structure of a society translate into pressure for boosting the intensity of agricultural output in relation to both land (demographic pressure
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increase in the output per hectare of land in production) and labor (bioeconomic pressure
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increase in the output per hour of labor in agriculture). Indices assessing these two types of pressures can be used as benchmarks to frame an analysis of agroecosystems.
