What is sustainable agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is the use of farming methods that can be continued long into the future. There are three areas of focus.

The Farmer: Farmers must earn a profit so that they can stay in business. Farming communities must be places that they want to live and have families.

The Consumer: The consumer needs safe and nutritious food at an affordable price.

The environment: The soil and water must be protected so farms will be safe and productive.

Some approaches to agriculture are more sustainable than others. Lets look at some ways farmers are working to protect the environment.

Growing food takes energy. The last 100 years saw huge increases in food production per acre. While this saved millions of people from starvation, there were environmental costs. A large portion of the increased production was due to the use of man-made fertilizers and chemicals for controlling insects and weeds. These products are made with fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are also used to run farm equipment and to ship food long distances.

Sustainable farms are looking at ways to decrease their use of fossil fuels. Some farms are using waste products to generate energy. Others are using more natural methods to control pests. Fewer insecticides are needed if crops are rotated so the same crop isn't grown in the same field year after year. Farmers are also using biocontrols, good insects that attack the harmful insects. Farmers that do use oil-based products are switching from spraying a whole field to only spraying the areas that have a problem.

Organic farmers have been leaders in finding alternatives to oil-based products. They focus on soil health so the plants will be stronger and need fewer sprays. The soil is improved by using composting and covercrops that add nutrients to the soil. The sprays they do use are made from plant, animal or mineral products.