Sustainable agriculture is about meeting the needs of the present without sacrificing that of tomorrows. It involves farming in a way that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and profitable for farmers. The idea behind sustainable agriculture is that is strikes for the best long-term outcomes for the world around us – that includes forests, climate stability, human rights and livelihoods.
It is urgent that we make agriculture more sustainable because in a world that has a population that is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, there just is not enough food to go around. So, farmers are having to produce more food than ever before, and conventional farming methods degrade land fast and crop productivity declines overtime. This is leading to farmers seeking out crop productive lands such as forests, and that we are clearing trees for mega crops to meet the need of the increasing population. There is utmost need for the adoption of more sustainable agriculture methods because these mega crops are accelerating climate change and increasing the greenhouse effect.
What sustainable agriculture should look like:
While sustainable agriculture affects the environment we inhabit, it can also have a two-fold effect. The methods as of current for mega crops can be detrimental to our health. Food health is also of utmost importance. If we continue to mass produce food, like is being done now and being genetically modified, and do not find a sustainable way to produce food that is strikes a balance with climate sustainability and food health, we create future problems for later generations.
In reference to:
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 