ABSTRACT
Agriculture helped shape southeastern Pennsylvania (SE Pa) and continues to provide vital economic, environmental and cultural benefits. However, concerns about the loss of farmland as well as the environmental and social impacts of the system raise the question of whether agriculture in the region can be sustained. A study by the American Farmland Trust listed the Northern Piedmont region, which includes SE Pa, as the second most-threatened agricultural area in the United States. Barriers to maintaining the SE Pa food and farm system outweigh the opportunities. Changes in policies and programs are required for agriculture to survive. Growth must be targeted away from agricultural lands and directed toward more appropriate locations, and new development must use land more efficiently. Research and education to help farmers conserve resources and maintain profits continue to lag seriously behind need. The extensive educational resources in the region must be mobilized to help consumers and community leaders recognize the importance and complexity of agriculture.
