Introduction
Farming systems are a major focus of IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS). In the 2026 first assessment, students are expected not only to describe different farming systems but also to compare and evaluate them. This requires applying systems thinking, using case studies, and linking farming to sustainability.
Examiners love this topic because it allows you to connect soil, water, energy, and food production in a single question. To score highly, you need to go beyond listing features—showing you can structure comparisons and evaluate sustainability effectively.
Quick Start Checklist for ESS Students
When revising farming systems, make sure you can:
- Define different farming systems (subsistence, commercial, intensive, extensive, pastoral, aquaculture).
- Compare systems using inputs, outputs, and environmental impacts.
- Apply at least two case studies in detail.
- Link farming systems to soil degradation, water use, and sustainability.
- Practice command terms like “Compare,” “Contrast,” and “Evaluate.”
What Are Farming Systems in ESS?
ESS treats farming systems as systems of energy and matter flows:
- Inputs: labor, technology, energy, fertilizers, pesticides, water.
- Outputs: crops, livestock, waste, income, pollution.
- Storages/flows: soil fertility, nutrient cycling, biomass.
By analyzing systems this way, you can easily compare across different contexts.
