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What is Sustainable Agriculture?

What is Sustainable Agriculture?. “…a journey, not a destination” Iowa Farmer. Sustainable Agriculture. “…an integrated system of plant and animal production practices…that will satisfy human food and fiber needs enhance environmental quality make the most efficient use of

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What is Sustainable Agriculture?

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  1. What is Sustainable Agriculture? “…a journey, not a destination” Iowa Farmer Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  2. Sustainable Agriculture • “…an integrated system of plant and animal production practices…that will • satisfy human food and fiber needs • enhance environmental quality • make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources • sustain economic viability • enhance quality of life.” 1990 Farm Bill Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  3. Thethree-legged stool of sustainability Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  4. Economically sustainable • Provides a secure living for farm families • Provides a secure living to other workers in the food system • Provides access to good food for all Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  5. Environmentally Sound Preserves the quality of soil, water, and air Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  6. Environmentally Sound Cooperates with and is modeled on natural systems Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  7. Socially sustainable • Good for families • Supports communities • Fair to all involved Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  8. Goals:A desired end Practices:Actions to achieve a goal Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  9. How do you get to goals? • Figure out where you are • Analyze your strengths and weaknesses • Select strategies (practices) • Keep monitoring your progress • Re-evaluate your goals and plans Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  10. Where are we? What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our current agricultural system? Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  11. Successes • abundant food supply in the developed world • fresh fruits and vegetables available year-round • cheap food • luxury foods such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and spices easily available around the world • effective food preservation technologies (refrigeration, freezing, canning, packaging) • convenience foods • mechanization produces high labor efficiency • improvements in soil conservation • availability of agricultural inputs for quick solutions to production problems Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  12. Problems • continuing soil loss • food safety concerns (mad cow disease, food poisoning outbreaks, antibiotic resistance, toxins and pesticides) • water pollution, air pollution (& odors), habitat loss, water depletion • continuing hunger – and rise of obesity • failing farms, economic uncertainty and stress • declining communities • farm accidents, chronic diseases linked to agricultural chemicals • reliance on fossil fuels, global warming • farmland loss to development, ugly countryside • difficulty of starting in farming Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

  13. Conclusion • Agriculture has accomplished much • There are still many problems to solve, both old and new • Sustainable agriculture is about trying to solve these problems – without creating new ones. Toward a Sustainable Agriculture

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