Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fertilizers
Cover crops
Green manures
Mulching
Compost
Rotations
Enhanced
soil
fertility
Healthy
agroecosystem
Interactions
(+, -)
Synergism
Healthy crop
Crop diversity
Cultural practices
Pesticides
Habitat modification
Enhanced
pest
regulation
Figure 1.4
Interactions between components of a farming system (from Altieri 2002).
of repeatedly applying herbicides to control weeds on an orchard floor,
a grower would plant cover crops, creating improved soil health,
and reduce soil and water erosion. This approach to farming requires a
different mode of perception, and the ability to recognize the potential
benefits of managing components for superior outcomes for the entire
system. Thus, agroecology's integrative, holistic approach exists in fun-
damental tension with reductionistic scientific practices and perspectives.
Agroecology is becoming a primary scientific paradigm to guide alter-
native agriculture, partially replacing the term “sustainable agriculture”
within the academy. “Sustainability” is a compelling albeit slippery term,
and continuing debates about and differing interpretations of its precise
definition make it difficult to use without having to continually define
it. 38 Many sustainable agriculture initiatives in US agriculture have in
practice been narrowly focused, on single practices within farming
systems. I prefer the definition of Patricia Allen et al.: sustainable agri-
culture is “one that equitably balances concerns about environmental
soundness, economic viability, and social justice among all sectors of
society.” 39 In practice and program, however, collaborative progress
toward this comprehensive and ambitious framework to sustainability
has been difficult to achieve. 40
 
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