AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 58

manner in which development is framed. After World War II, the concept of 'catch-
up development', in which underdeveloped economies were expected to catch-up to
achieving economic growth in a similar manner as developed economies, provided
the framework in which development projects and policies were framed (Van
Keulen 2007). This changed as soon as the environmental impacts of this biased
focus on economic development became clear. After a period in which economy and
environment were perceived as conflicting objectives, societies and policymakers
moved to a multi-dimensional approach of development. Sustainable development
embraces the concept of an economically viable, socially just and ecologically sound
development not only for the present, but also for the future (Agenda 21, UN 1992).
In this approach, the three pillars are set on equal footing for present and future
generations (see also Roetter et al. 2007c). Following this concept, the responsibility
lies with present societies to manage natural, human and economic resources in such
a way that future generations are not constrained in their development.
Agricultural land use has the potential to damage or destroy the natural resource
base, thus undermining future development potentials. It often is the focus on short-
term economic gain and disregard of long-term impacts and needs that lead to
environmental degradation. Clearly, part of the solution lies in a change in demands
from society, e.g., via changes in diet and lifestyle, but also the agricultural sector
has a responsibility to find ways to reduce the negative environmental impacts.
Agriculture, rooted in the natural resource base and serving as a major contributor to
development, is at the forefront of shaping the concept of sustainable development
(WSSD 2002).
AGRICULTURE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS
Agriculture is the major user of land and water resources and competes with other
users for these limited resources. The sustainable development challenges for
agriculture are strongly related to this competition and the role of agriculture in rural
development. Agenda 21:
Major adjustments are needed in agricultural, environmental and macro-
economic policy, at both national and international levels, in developed as
well as developing countries, to create the conditions for sustainable agriculture
and rural development. 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, utilization 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.
Ten years after Rio at the WSSD conference in Johannesburg the importance of
Agenda 21 was reaffirmed and a strong commitment to implementation of Agenda