Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Environment
Natural resource use
Nutrient management
Biodiversity management
Pollution prevention
(air, water, land, waste)
Eco-economic
Farm energy and nutrient
efficiency
Lifecycle farm management
Economic incentives and
subsidies for stewardship
Markets for ecosystem services
Socio-eco
Environmental justice
Natural resource stewardship
Environmental health and safety
Ecosystem service provision
Sustainability
Economic
Viable livelihoods
Economic
prosperity
Social
Food and fibre
Production
Food access
Community
well-being
Diversity
Community
development
research
Socio-economic
Farmer, farmworker and
agricultural processor wages
Worker's rights
Agricultural business ethics
Corporate social responsibility
Fig. 13.1.
The three pillars of sustainability - social, environment and economic - adapted to agricultural
systems.
wage and had ethical labour practices (Browne
et al
., 2000). While social sustainability has vary-
ing definitions, it can encompass many compo-
nents of sustainability and naturally overlaps into
the environmental and economic spheres includ-
ing food security and access, community well-
being, diversity and culture, environmental justice,
living wages and economic farm viability.
communities face new challenges for develop-
ment. All of these changes are underscored by a
rising population in developing nations like China
and India amidst a global population expected
to crest at 9 billion by 2050 (UNPD, 2009).
Challenges for achieving social sustainabil-
ity in animal agriculture are significant particu-
larly in a time of increasing global populations,
rising demand for animal products and dwin-
dling natural resources. Nevertheless, animal
agriculture is also experiencing a new era of
renewed interest in how and in what ways food
is grown, which can provide potential benefits to
farmers and ranchers. There are also increas-
ing challenges and opportunities for animal agri-
culture from policy. New regulations can both
provide potential economic benefits through
eco-labelling schemes or payment for ecosystem
services, and economic and social challenges as
a result of immigration, environmental regula-
tions and food safety. This section will discuss
some aspects of social sustainability in animal
agriculture including food access and security,
farmer's markets, and diversity and culture.
Social Sustainability in
Animal Agriculture
Agriculture and ranching provide significant
social benefits to society through the provi-
sion of food and fibre, ecosystem services and
community development. However, agricul-
ture in the USA has changed significantly in the
past several decades. Farmers, ranchers, farm-
workers and agricultural processors are more
diverse than ever before and agricultural mar-
kets are rapidly changing. At the same time, food
security and access is less certain with globali-
zation and a growing population and rural
