title: Effective monitoring of agriculture: a response.
abstract: The development of effective agricultural monitoring networks is essential to track, anticipate and manage changes in the social, economic and environmental aspects of agriculture. We welcome the perspective of Lindenmayer and Likens (J. Environ. Monit., 2011, 13, 1559) as published in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring on our earlier paper, "Monitoring the World's Agriculture" (Sachs et al., Nature, 2010, 466, 558-560). In this response, we address their three main critiques labeled as 'the passive approach', 'the problem with uniform metrics' and 'the problem with composite metrics'. We expand on specific research questions at the core of the network design, on the distinction between key universal and site-specific metrics to detect change over time and across scales, and on the need for composite metrics in decision-making. We believe that simultaneously measuring indicators of the three pillars of sustainability (environmentally sound, social responsible and economically viable) in an effectively integrated monitoring system will ultimately allow scientists and land managers alike to find solutions to the most pressing problems facing global food security.
authors.affiliation: The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: Roseline
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Remans
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smukler
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Winowiecki
authors.forename: Sandy J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Andelman
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Cassman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeFries
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denning
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanzo
authors.forename: Louise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Rik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leemans
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Milder
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.forename: Generose
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nziguheba
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.forename: Prabhu L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pingali
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reganold
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Scherr
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sircely
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Tomich
authors.forename: Pedro A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*