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Re: Definition "Sustainable Agriculture"
tco4@aol.com (TCO4) wrote:
>Can anyone give me a quick and useful definition of "sustainable
>agriculture" and a short discussion of the goals and an example of what is
>done. Thanks
Here's the definition I used in my grad studies:
Sustainable agricultural systems are those which use methods of
cultivation and husbandry that are designed to maintain or improve
agricultural resources. These resources include water, soil, genetic
diversity, local knowledge, and the integrity of agricultural
ecosystems. They must adapt to the local social, economic, and
ecological features that form the environmental framework within which
the food production system must function.
I emphasise food production above, because that was my area of
concentration. Agriculture, of course, is more than just production
-- input supplies, processing, marketing, &c. must all work together
to form a sustainable system. Sure its a big messy huge unwieldy task
to look at it all, but for true sustainability we must, if you'll
excuse the metaphor, look at the forest rather than the trees.
People will say this is crazy -- they may be right.
Regards, j
--
say no to cars.
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