What does sustainable agriculture mean?

      The term sustainable agriculture refers to agriculture that respects natural resources and does not use pollutants in order not to upset the environmental balance; it is a type of agriculture that is the opposite of intensive agriculture. In the definition of Agricultural Sustainability Institute, this translates into ensuring the well-being of the world’s population and its need for food and textiles without harming the future generations that will inherit the world we live in. Sustainable development is therefore a type of economy that promotes respect for the environment in which we live but at the same time is able to safeguard the human and economic resources involved in its processes. This is why sustainable agriculture is an economically advantageous production model for workers, as one of its objectives is to improve their quality of life and working conditions.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  What are the principles of sustainable agriculture?

  1. Increase productivity, employment and value addition in food systems
  2. Protect and enhance natural resources
  3. Improve livelihood and promote inclusive economic growth
  4. Enhance the resilience of people, communities and ecosystems
  5. Adapt governance to new challenges

In this vision, farmers, shepherds, fishermen, foresters and other rural dwellers have their voices heard, benefit from economic development and enjoy decent employment.
Rural men and women live in security, have control over their livelihoods and equitable access to resources which they use in an efficient way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference : https://www.landini.it/as/sustainable-agriculture-meaning-principles-and-techniques/
Webmaster : Krittanat Leartthanongsak 5/1-17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  The main techniques

  The main techniques of sustainable agriculture come from the past and predate the era of massive industrialisation that revolutionised the agricultural world.

These techniques involve

  1. crop rotation with the aim of improving or maintaining land yields;
  2. monitoring of agricultural pests and disease-transmitting insects using their natural enemies, e.g. other beneficial insects, predators, parasitoids and micro-organisms such as fungi, viruses and bacteria;
  3. covering the soil with straw or organic matter, which helps to maintain optimal soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.

  Rediscovered and enhanced as part of a new paradigm of agriculture with a lower environmental impact, they are now supported by a strong technological system that makes them applicable on a large scale and able to optimise work and resources to the maximum.

 

 

  Crop production

             Sustainable agriculture emphasizes planting diverse crops, including heirloom plants, which are often suited to a region’s particular climate. Rather than relying on a single crop in industrial monoculture, sustainable agriculture advocates the use of polyculture, in which multiple crops are grown together. Although polyculture is frequently more labour-intensive than industrial monoculture, polyculture can reduce the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers and generally improves soil quality. Similarly, crop rotation can help preserve soil productivity and lessen the need for agricultural chemicals for fertilization and pest control. The use of nitrogen-fixing cover crops, smother crops, and green manures can help restore soils and reduce erosion. Composting crop residues and other agricultural wastes helps recycle nutrients back to the farmland.