Sustainable Development & Agriculture
By definition, the word "sustain" implies long-term support or permanence. As it pertains to agriculture, sustainable describes farming systems that are "capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely. Such systems... must be resource-conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive, and environmentally sound."
Sustainable agriculture as a concept means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:
- satisfy human food and fibre needs;
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
- enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole."
The World Commission on Environment and Development has formulated Agenda 21 in 1992 that outlines the plan of action for implementing sustainable development. Among others, the Agenda 21 states that the major objective of sustainable agriculture and rural development is to increase food production in a sustainable way and enhance food security. This will involve education initiatives, use of economic incentives and the development of appropriate and new technologies, thus ensuring stable supplies of nutritionally adequate food, access to those supplies by vulnerable groups, and production for markets; employment and income generation to alleviate poverty; and natural resource management and environmental protection.
Join us in our quest to provide a sustainable life for all.