Cornell University, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) in particular, is committed to agricultural and food systems research and extension programs that advance systems perspectives, sustainability, economic development, and environmental stewardship. Interdisciplinary approaches are sought that integrate quantitative thinking and qualitative understanding, building capacity to understand and help solve important problems locally and across the globe. The University and CALS strategic plans outlines these priorities in more detail.

As the Land Grant University for New York State, part of Cornell's mission is to provide education, outreach and applied research specifically for the benefit of New York's citizens, communities and landscapes.  The university also has a strong international focus to its mission, particularly in the developing world. Mann Library shares these commitments, promoting innovations in information systems and services for sustainable development in New York state and beyond.

This community has been created by Mann Library to help foster cross-disciplinary research related to issues of sustainability. A wide variety of students, faculty, and staff at Cornell have or are pursuing studies, research or outreach work related to food, fiber and fuel systems. This work is central to answering questions around sustainability.

Many of the materials produced by individuals and projects related to these topics are either unpublished or scattered across the web in forms such as white papers, journal articles, conference proceedings, extension publications and fact sheets. This community is an attempt to pull these materials together in one place to assist interdisciplinary study, research and outreach.

If you would like to participate or comment on this effort, please contact us at mann-outreach-l@cornell.edu