A sustainable agriculture must be all three - ecologically sound, economically viable and socially responsible. An agriculture that fails to meet the needs of society, as producers and citizens as well as consumers, will not be sustained by society. An agriculture that isn't profitable, at least over time, will not allow its farmers to stay in business. In developed countries, small farmers are increasingly developing direct channels to. Produce is not necessarily sold on the market or is sold without a price distinction as it is not certified. An agriculture that uses up or degrades its natural resource base, or pollutes the natural environment, eventually will lose its ability to produce. In many developing countries, organic agriculture is adopted as a method to improve household food security or to achieve a reduction of input costs. The economic, social and ecological are interrelated, and all are essential to sustainability. Ikerd, Extension Professor at the University of Missouri, offers his view of sustainability: "A sustainable agriculture must be economically viable, socially responsible and ecologically sound. It reflects our concern with the long-term viability of agriculture.ĭr. We must preserve the resource base that sustains us all.īeyond the Congressional definition, sustainable agriculture has been defined in several ways, for example, as a system that can indefinitely sustain itself without degrading the land, the environment or the people. Socially Supportive: The quality of life of farmers, farm families and farm communities is important.Economically Viable: If it is not profitable, it is not sustainable.It works on farms and ranches large and small, harnessing new technologies and renewing the best practices of the past. It draws and learns from organic farming. It rewards the true values of producers and their products. Sustainable agriculture fits into and complements modern agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture can be defined in many ways, but ultimately it seeks to sustain farmers, resources and communities by promoting farming practices and methods that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities. Resources for Conducting Successful Outreach.
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