With roots in the social sciences and heterodox economics, ecological economists appreciate the economic value of nature but argue that it also has many highly subjective social and philosophical values. They see the market valuation of nature as an inherently political act that limits our ability to protect nature – only a democratic process of comprehensive social change can achieve this goal.

Monarch butterflies rest on a tree trunk covered in moss with a blue sky in the background. Photo by Erica Lowe via Unsplash.
Event recording
Event Recording: Counting on Nature - How should we value nature in our food systems?
This event was co-hosted by TABLE and the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food on 2 June 2025 in a hybrid format and took the form of a panel discussion moderated by Tara Garnett (Director, TABLE) with:Rohit Kaushish (Chief Economics Advisor, National Farmers' Union);Constance McDermott (Associate Professor and Jackson Senior Research Fellow in Land Use and Environmental Change, Oriel College and the Environmental Change Institute at University of Oxford);Vassilis Gkoumas (Economist, WWF-UK);Henry Leveson-Gower (Founder & CEO, Promoting Economic Pluralism).The event was inspired by the TABLE explainer Making Nature Count: How should we value nature in our food systems? (authored by Henry Leveson-Gower). 
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