Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Biodiversity preservation
Ethical considerations
Resource preservation
Sustainable
agriculture
Maintaining food
production
Economic viability
Global component of
sustainability
FIGURE 6.13
Components of sustainability for agriculture. (Information from Christen, P., Konzept des Sustainable
Development bzw. Für den landwirtschaftlichen Bereich sustainable agriculture (gemäß dem erichtöur com-
mon future'bzw dem Brundtland—Report),
Berichte über Landwirtschaft, Landwirtschaftsverlag, Münster-Hiltrup,
Germany
, 74, 66-86, 1996.)
• Making it possible to allow agricultural producers to earn a proper living
• Using appropriate technologies for biological systems and decentralized systems
for product processing, distribution, and marketing
• Creating aesthetically pleasing systems to all
• Preserving and maintaining wildlife and their habitats
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and U.S. Trade Act of 1990 established that prac-
tice of sustainable agriculture is to
Satisfy human food and iber needs; enhance environmental quality and the natural
resource based upon which the agricultural economy depends; make the most eficient
use of non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate where appropriate
natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operations
and the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
Canada's International Institute for Sustainable Development agrees with this but says
that organic farming is not the only way to achieve sustainable agriculture (University of
Reading, Sustainable Agriculture, 2014). Technology needed to achieve sustainability is
minimized in organic farming.
Various other organizations have also provided inputs into deining sustainable agricul-
ture as there is no commonly accepted deinition. The following quote gives the United
Kingdom DEFRA deinition that includes
• Ensuring the continuing availability to the consumer of adequate supplies of,
wholesome, varied and reasonably priced food, produced within accordance with
generally accepted environmental and social standards
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