This article describes the basic principles of the functioning of living systems, which distinguish them from other systems. The concept of dividing living systems’ resources into matter and energy has been expanded by describing their contribution to systems’ entropy. Within social systems, human individuals serve as the functional equivalent of energy in ordinary living systems, acting as the driving and redistributive force with respect to matter. Furthermore, additional characteristics of system resources that impact the strategies of living systems regarding their resources have been introduced. Additionally, the maximum rate of development of living systems under ideal conditions has been demonstrated. Based on the above, this article presents the most natural sequence of changes of living systems in relation to their sources of matter and energy. Moreover, such a sequence of strategy changes is also considered for national food systems in which infrastructure elements and workers represent matter and energy. This article can provide a valuable initial insight into the degree of correspondence between the general structural organization of state food systems and the operational conditions under which they function.
Pavel Brazhnikov (Wed,) studied this question.