Sustainable Agriculture - Why It Matters

Farming has a profound influence on the environment and natural resources. Agricultural practices that are not managed properly can have devastating environmental impacts, including depletion of wetlands, biodiversity loss caused by land conversion and the degradation of natural resources through agricultural runoff, soil erosion and the misuse of agrochemicals.

Population growth also will continue to place demands on natural resources. The world's population in 2007 is approximately 6.7 billion - 700 million more than in 1999. By 2025, the global population is projected to be 8 billion, and 9.2 billion by 2050. Ninety-nine percent of the population growth will take place in developing countries.

Sustainable agriculture is based on the idea that we can and must meet the nutritional needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In this context, "sustainable" describes farming practices and systems that can maintain their productivity and utility to society indefinitely.

For this reason, sustainable agriculture is more than just environmentally sound crop production. It is a holistic, long-term approach that uses the farm as a focal point, viewing sustainable farming as an opportunity to strengthen the economies of agricultural systems, increase farm income, support the social enrichment of farming communities, improve working conditions, and emphasize environmental stewardship.

Sustainable agriculture is, in short, a foundation of sustainable communities.