Sustainabilityread What is Sustainable Agriculture….pptVIP

Sustainabilityread What is Sustainable Agriculture…/concept.htm AGST 3000 Agriculture, Society and the Natural World Other Websites… /ces/susag/UWEX/frameuwex.html /docs/basics.htm Find another website that includes the use of sustainability on an international basis Defined… Sustainability – Meeting needs without compromising future generations. Sustainable Agriculture – A commitment to satisfy human food and fiber needs and to enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole, now and into the future. THE BASIS OF SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS Agriculture is often viewed as consisting of three types of systems: economic, ecological and social. Sustainable improvement in agriculture – usually thought of in terms of farm profitability, environmental stewardship and quality of life for farm families and rural communities – must be based on these interlocking aspects of agriculture. Integrates three main goals… 1. Environmental health 2. Economic profitability 3. Social economic equity Common Themes in Sustainability Stewardship of natural human resources A systems approach … from the individual farm, to the local ecosystem, to the communities affected (locally and globally) A long term perspective – preservation of the land for future generations Idea of process, continual change, modification (replicating nature) Shared responsibility among all participants in the system In class paper…react to the following The following is a short excerpt on Sustainable Agriculture from recent publications from the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada entitled: “The health of our soils: toward sustainable agriculture in Canada” IntroductionL.J. Gregorich Most people know that they need clean air and clean water to stay healthy. Fewer people realize that their well-being also depends on the health of another component of our environment – the soil. Soil supports the growth of most of our food and fibre, so its productivity is a majo