Washington | Covelo | Londonwww.islandpress.orgAll Island Press books are printed on recycled, acid-free paper.

Cover design: Maureen GatelyCover photos: “Golden wheat stalks” © Oleg Prikhodko, istockphoto.com; “1939 Mexican 5 cent postage stamp” © Ken Brown, istockphoto.com

POLICY | HISTORY | SCIENCE

advance Praise for Seeds of Sustainability“This book will become a classic in sustainability science, presenting a fascinating interdisciplinary exploration of how human-environment interactions have unfolded over decadal time scales in Mexico’s Yaqui Valley. Particularly welcome are its unflinching reflections on the challenges of conducting such studies, and on what needs to change for academia to become a more effective and reliable partner in the urgent task of linking knowledge with action to promote sustainable development.”

— William C. Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy, and Human Development, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

“Seeds of Sustainability illustrates the kind of integrative research that will be needed to address the challenges our food systems face, now and in the future.”

— Prabhu Pingali, Deputy Director, Agriculture Development Division of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

“Reading Seeds of Sustainability is inspirational for all of us interested in how to enhance our planet’s sustainability and robustness while reducing the risks facing valuable ecosystems around the world and the people dependent on them.”

—Elinor ostrom, 2009 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences

“Seeds of Sustainability is an excellent place-based, but globally relevant, analysis of human-environment interactions. It demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary approaches that bring together physical, biological, and social data.”

— Diana livErman, Professor of Geography and Development and Codirector of the Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona

“Seeds of Sustainability opens an important window into the opportunities and challenges for agricultural development in the twenty-first century. The pioneering work by Matson’s team in the Yaqui Valley illuminates the links between economic policy, food security, and environmental sustainability, pointing the way to critical new strategies for the world.”

— grEtChEn C. Daily, Bing Professor of Environmental Science, Stanford University

Pamela matson was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley at the beginning of the Yaqui Valley research project. She then moved to Stanford University, becoming the Goldman Professor of Environmental Studies and Codirector of the Center for Environmental Science and Policy in the Institute for International Studies. She is currently Dean of the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment.

Lessons from the BirthpLace of the

Green revoLution in aGricuLture

Edited by Pamela A. Matson

SeedSof

S u S ta i n a b i l i t y

Matson

SeedS of SuStainability

AOASS

ASERCA

BANCOMEXT

BANRURAL

CGIAR

CIMMYT

CIRNO

CNA

COFEPRIS

CONASUPO

ENSO

EPA

EQIP

FERTIMEX

FIRA

FIRCO

FONAES

GATT

INEGI

INIA

INIFAP

ITSON

NAFTA

NARS

OECD

OSHA

PAIS

PEMEX

PIEAES

PROCAMPO

PROCEDE

SAGARPA

SEMARNAT

WTO