Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 1
EVALUATING THE SUSTAINABILITY
OF A SMALL-SCALE LOW-INPUT
ORGANIC VEGETABLE SUPPLY
SYSTEM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
MADS V. MARKUSSEN, MICHAL KULAK, LAURENCE G. SMITH,
THOMAS NEMECEK,
AND
HANNE
Ø
STERG
Å
RD
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Modern food supply systems (production and distribution) are heavily de-
pendent on fossil energy [1] and other non-renewable resources [2]. The
global environmental crisis [3,4] and foreseeable constraints on the supply
of energy [5] and fertilizer [6,7] clearly show that there is a need to de-
velop food supply systems that conserve biodiversity and natural systems
and rely less on non-renewable resources. A similar conclusion is drawn in
a report initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) and The World Bank. It emphasizes the need to maintain
productivity, while conserving natural resources by improving nutrient,
energy, water and land use efficiency, increasing farm diversification, and
