U.S. consumers have come to expect abundant and inexpensive food. USDA will integrate these goals into its policies and programs, particularly through interagency collaboration, partnerships and outreach." A key goal is to understand agriculture from an ecological perspective—in terms of nutrient and energy dynamics, and interactions among plants, animals, insects and other organisms in agroecosystems—then balance it with profit, community and consumer needs." Although sustainable agriculture does have some issues and concerns associated with it, this type of agriculture is the key to the future. succeed. Many in the agricultural community have adopted the sense of urgency and direction pointed to by the sustainable agriculture concept. Understanding will deepen; answers will continue to come. Pesticides from every chemical class have been detected in groundwater and are commonly found in groundwater beneath agricultural areas; they are widespread in the nation’s surface waters. (10/20/09)]. On-going dialog is important for another reason: with more parties, each with its own agenda, jumping into the sustainable agriculture "tent," only a continued focus on the real issues and goals will keep sustainable agriculture from becoming so all-encompassing as to become meaningless. What are four factors that contributed to the debt acquired by American farmers in the late nineteenth century? Although industrialized agriculture has made it possible to produce large quantities of food, due to the negative aspects of this technique, there has been a shift towards sustainable agriculture. Now, let's review sustainable agriculture and the benefits and issues associated with this type of farming. It consists of a set of concepts which are fundamentally different in nature. Although certainly not mainstream at this point, sustainable agriculture is now being addressed by the agricultural community in significant ways. They also disagree on whether sustainable agriculture needs defining at all. With the contradictions and questions have come a hard look at our present food production system and thoughtful evaluations of its future. Select a subject to preview related courses: Although there are many benefits to sustainable agriculture, there are also some issues associated with it. [USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) General Manual (180-GM, Part 407). Definition (SANET-mg post, March 1994). Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Updates Service, World and U.S. Agrochemical Market in 1998 (PAN, July 23, 1999). Gold, Mary V. Sustainable agriculture has had many benefits, including benefits to human health, such as increased nutrition and reduced exposure to chemicals. Edward Groth III, Charles M. Benbrook, and Karen Lutz, Do You Know What You’re Eating? After all, who would advocate a ‘non-sustainable agriculture?’" [Charles A. Francis, "Sustainable Agriculture: Myths and Realities," Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (1990) 1(1): p.97. Historically, farming played an important role in our development and identity as a nation. "Sustainable agriculture" was addressed by Congress in the 1990 "Farm Bill" [Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA), Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603 (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1990) NAL Call # KF1692.A31 1990]. "Sustainable agriculture is a model of social and economic organization based on an equitable and participatory vision of development which recognizes the environment and natural resources as the foundation of economic activity. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal As it pertains to agriculture, sustainable describes farming systems that are "capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely. Available at Agroecology Home Website: http://agroecology.org/Principles_Def.html (6/9/08)], "Consumers can play a critical role in creating a sustainable food system. Lack of sharp definition has not lessened its authenticity. Due to the lack of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, people are not being exposed to or consuming synthetic materials. Chapters 1 – 6 and Chapter 38. Raymond Forney, A Common Vision: Evaluating the Farming Industry’s Progress Toward Sustainability (Dupont/Chesapeake Farms, 1998). "The best way to communicate the meaning of sustainable agriculture is through real-life stories of farmers who are developing sustainable farming systems on their own farms," says John Ikerd, describing the 1,000 Ways to Sustainable Farming project funded by USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Productivity 1990–2002. USDA will balance goals of improved production and profitability, stewardship of the natural resource base and ecological systems, and enhancement of the vitality of rural communities. Agriculture is sustainable when it is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just, culturally appropriate and based on a holistic scientific approach. "In addition to describing successful farming practices, the features in The New American Farmer detail the effects of those practices on farm profitability, quality of life, rural communities and the environment." Agric, December 1989. Some of the most common techniques include growing plants that can create their own nutrients to reduce the use of fertilizers and rotating crops in fields, which minimizes pesticide use because the crops are changing frequently. Rather, sustainability builds on current agricultural achievements, adopting a sophisticated approach that can maintain high yields and farm profits without undermining the resources on which agriculture depends." Traditional College, Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers. In addition, farmers need to be taught about sustainable agriculture and given incentives to change their farming methods for the good of the entire human population. We have suggested here that these difficulties be addressed by focusing on the particular aspects of sustainability which the decision maker considers to be important, and presenting information about the trade offs between these aspects within a multiple criteria decision making formula." Arnold L. Aspelin, Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage: 1994 and 1995 Market Estimates (U.S. EPA, 1997). | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} 1. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Ann Sorensen, Richard P. Greene, and Karen Russ, Farming on the Edge (American Farmland Trust, 1997). According to recent United Nations population projections, the world population will grow from 5.7 billion in 1995 to 9.4 billion in 2050, 10.4 billion in 2100, and 10.8 billion by 2150, and will stabilize at slightly under 11 billion around 2200. It is agriculture that follows the principles of nature to form systems for raising crops and livestock that are, like nature, self-sustaining. Although it is cheaper for farmers to produce crops sustainably because they are spending less money on pesticides, fertilizers, and fuels for large machines, sustainably produced crops are sold to consumers at higher prices. Critical discussion of the sustainable agriculture concept will and should continue. Sustainable Agriculture comprises “management procedures that work with natural processes to conserve all resources, minimize waste and environmental impact, prevent problems and promote agroecosystem resilience, self-regulation, evolution and sustained production for the nourishment and fulfillment of all.” MacRae et al. This poses serious difficulties for the practical application of sustainability as an objective in real decision making.
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