Written By: Mannnat Malhan
Edited By: Hatim Dungrawala
Designed By: Danujan Krishnakumar
Published By: Ayman Anas Khan
More Than Fabric: How Silk Depends on Food Systems
When most of us think of silk, it’s seen as a symbol of luxury. It’s used to make dazzling clothing, dreamy bed sheets, and radiant textiles, but very little attention is given to where it comes from. Unlike synthetic fabrics that are produced in factories, silk begins with agriculture. Every thread of it depends on silkworms, which rely almost entirely on mulberry leaves for survival. Silk may be known for its softness, but its story begins with something much simpler: a hungry silkworm and the leaves that feed it.
The production of silk, also known as sericulture, begins with the domesticated silk worm (Bombyx mori). Silkworms spend most of their lives eating mulberry leaves before spinning silk cocoons that are later processed into fabric. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), successful silk production depends on maintaining healthy mulberry plantations because the quality and quantity of leaves directly affect the health of the silkworms and the amount of silk they produce. This means that before silk reaches clothing stores, it begins as an agricultural system built around growing and managing crops. This connection challenges the common idea that food systems only exist to produce food. Food systems include everything involved in growing crops, managing land, using water, transporting resources, and supporting rural communities. Mulberry trees may not be grown for people to eat, but they’re still an essential agricultural crop. Their leaves provide the only food source for silkworms, making them just as important to silk production as wheat is to bread or corn is to livestock feed.
Silk farming also demonstrates how agriculture can reduce waste when different parts of the production process are used efficiently. After silk is removed from the cocoon, the remaining silkworm pupae are often consumed as food in countries such as China, South Korea, Thailand, and India. Edible insects provide protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals while producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions than many traditional livestock species (FAO, 2013). Instead of becoming waste, the pupae become another useful product of the agricultural system. Mulberry trees also provide additional environmental benefits. Their deep root systems help reduce soil erosion, while the leaves and branches can sometimes be used as animal feed or compost. In some farming systems, mulberry plantations are integrated with livestock production, allowing nutrients to cycle back into the soil. These examples show how agriculture can support multiple products while reducing unnecessary waste.
Despite these benefits, silk production also raises important environmental questions. Like other forms of agriculture, growing mulberry trees requires land, water, and careful management. Poor farming practices can contribute to soil degradation, reduced biodiversity, and increased water use. Climate change may also affect silk production by changing growing conditions and increasing the risk of drought or extreme weather. Because silkworms depend on a consistent food supply, environmental changes can reduce both the quantity and quality of silk produced.
Sustainable farming practices can help address many of these challenges. Planting mulberry trees responsibly, conserving water, improving soil health, and reducing chemical use can protect ecosystems while supporting farmers’ livelihoods. Since millions of households around the world depend on sericulture as a source of income, improving sustainability b
enefits both the environment and local communities. The connection between silk and food systems also highlights how different industries depend on one another. Fashion often seems completely separate from agriculture, yet silk demonstrates that clothing production begins long before fabric reaches a factory. It starts with productive farmland, reliable water supplies, and crops that can feed silkworms. Without these agricultural resources, silk couldn’t exist.
Looking beyond the finished fabric reveals a much larger story. Silk is not simply a luxury fabric but the result of farming, resource management, and sustainable agricultural practices. Its production depends on the same environmental systems that support food production worldwide. Understanding this connection reminds us that food systems influence far more than what appears on a dinner plate; they also shape many of the products used in everyday life. The next time you see something made of silk, think about the farmers, the mulberry trees, and the food system that made it possible. You’ll notice how sometimes the most interesting connections are the ones you never notice until you start asking questions.
References:
- Huis. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2013). Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security (FAO Forestry Paper No. 171).
Patil, B., Singh, K., Pawar, S., Maarse, L., & Otte, J. (2009). Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative: A Living from Livestock Sericulture: An Alternative Source of Income to Enhance the Livelihoods of Small-scale Farmers and Tribal Communities.
Rogers, K. (n.d.). Sericulture | Silk Production. Encyclopedia Britannica.
Ebrahimi, D., Tokareva, O., Rim, N. G., Wong, J. Y., Kaplan, D. L., & Buehler, M. J. (2015). Silk–Its Mysteries, How It Is Made, and How It Is Used. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 1(10), 864–876.