Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture Definition

Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. Two key issues are biophysical (the long-term effects of various practices on soil properties and processes essential for crop productivity) and socio-economic (the long-term ability of farmers to obtain inputs and manage resources such as labor). The physical aspects of sustainability are partly understood (Altieri 1995). Practices that can cause long-term damage to soil include excessive tillage (leading to erosion) and irrigation without adequate drainage (leading to accumulation of salt in the soil). Long-term experiments provide some of the best data on how various practices affect soil properties essential to sustainability. -Source: Wikipedia (page on sustainable agriculture).

"Sustainable development necessitates protecting the natural resources needed for food production and cooking fuels, while expanding production to meet the needs of the population. These are potentially conflicting goals, and yet failure to conserve the natural resources on which agriculture depends would ensure future shortages of food. Sustainable development, where food and agriculture are concerned, means more efficient use of arable land and water supplies, as well as development and adoption of improved agricultural practices and technologies to increase yields while maintaining soil fertility. It aims to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical additives so that they do not degrade rivers and lakes, threaten wildlife, and contaminate human food and water supplies. It means careful use of irrigation, and promotion of the conservation of water. It means avoiding the expansion of agriculture into marginal soils that would rapidly erode, while at the same time exploring possibilities for soils that can be enriched and improved for food production."
-The Hanover Principles, Design for Sustainability, William McDonough Architects, NY, NY

Here is a YouTube Video on Sustainable Agriculture:

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Sustainable Agriculture Links

The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems