Are you concerned about the negative environmental impacts?
Do you also want to stop overusing non-renewable natural resources?
Then, sustainable agriculture practices might help you!
As you already know, agriculture is the largest food-producing industry in the world. It alone produces food worth $1.3 trillion a year.
However, such a huge quantity of food production demands a large amount of natural resource consumption. Also, 50% of the world’s total land area is dedicated to agricultural practices.
This rapid consumption results in continuous resource loss & waste. Here, comes the importance of practicing sustainable farming methods.
Stick with me till the end to learn more about the principles, factors to consider, latest technologies, & much more!
What is Sustainable Agriculture & Its 3 Vital Aims
It is an all-inclusive farming approach that can sustain the global population, farmers, & producers while preserving natural resources. This relatively modern concept recognizes & rewards the efforts of food producers.
Now, check out the basic aims of this farming approach below.
Economic Benefits
Sustaining the organic farming methods & offering farmers the best market value is one of the primary aims.
Social Support
This agricultural method also aims to improve the lives of the farmers & the entire community of food producers.
Ecologically Sound
Sustainable agricultural practices aim to preserve environmental resources & prevent wastage & overuse of non-renewable natural resources.
The Evolution of The Sustainable Agriculture Concept
A Roman landowner named Marcus Terentius Varro first understood the importance of sustainable agricultural practices.
Though the concept traces back to the 1st century BC, people also realized its benefits in medieval India. They developed water storage techniques, such as the Kallanai dam on the river Kaveri.
Later, the emergence of the Green Revolution made farmers aware of the environmental benefits. So, they started to adopt sustainable agricultural practices like avoiding synthetic fertilizers, limiting resource usage, etc.
Wes Jackson used the word “sustainable agriculture” for the first time in “New Roots for Agriculture.” Later, the US Agriculture Farm Bill of 1990 popularized the concept.
3 Key Principles of Sustainable Agriculture
Now the question is, do you know why you should focus on practicing this agricultural method even more? It is because of the key benefits it offers. Let’s check them out once.
Incorporating Ecological Process
Sustainable farming methods incorporate ecological & biological harvesting practices. Primarily, it emphasizes nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, soil replenishments, etc. with techniques like crop rotation.
Reduced Non-Renewable Source Usage
This is probably the best benefit of practicing sustainable methods of farming!
It focuses on reduced usage of non-renewable natural resources for harvesting as it harms the environment & leads to resource wastage.
Farmers’ Expertise & Social Support
It encourages farmers to put in their collaborative effort to produce food crops. Also, farmers can learn from one another & update their knowledge. Moreover, the individual farmers’ skills & knowledge result in better farm management.
4 Environmental Factors To Take Care Of
Now what type of sustainable farming practice will suit your needs depends on a few environmental factors. Depending on specific environmental needs, you can modify your plans about practicing these techniques.
Soil Nutrients
Soil nutrients play a crucial role in plant growth. However, opt for organic methods to supply the soil with the required nutrient components. For example, you can recycle crop waste, practice crop rotation & use manure to fix soil’s nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium levels.
Land Use
Do you know what’s the best way to naturally prevent soil erosion?
Try planting cover crops, no-till farming, & crop rotation to preserve soil & better land management to practice sustainable agriculture.
Energy Usage
Modern agricultural systems are quite energy-oriented. However, scientists suggest using biofuels produced from animals & green waste instead of using non-renewable fossil fuels.
Water Resources
If you have access to natural water bodies for crop farming, try to limit their usage. But, if not, invest in irrigation & ensure its proper supply & management. Also, you can use rainfall wisely by preserving it.
3 Social Factors Contributing To The Growth of Sustainable Agriculture
Rural Economy
Land stewardship, better farming infrastructure, access to local markets or technologies, & organic farm management systems can promote sustainable farming methods.
Women’s Roles
The active participation of women in farming endeavors can result in crop diversity, better resource management, & economic and environmental benefits.
Own Food Production
Trust me, this is the most satisfying job ever!
If you like to plant vegetables & crops in the backyard of your house, you are going to love this!
Growing crops, fruits, & veggies on a small scale promotes the practice of organic farming & reduces pressure on large-scale production sectors. As a result, it gradually reduces resource waste & overuse benefitting the biodiversity.
Top 3 Sustainable Agriculture Methods
If you are thinking of which agricultural method you should practice, then check out these 3 techniques.
Organic Farming
With this farming method, you can grow crops naturally without using any synthetic farming inputs. Use animal manure as fertilizer, natural interventions to control pests & practice crop rotation to organically boost the soil’s fertility.
Ecological Farming
This farming technique not only encourages using natural farming inputs & resources but also focuses on holistic environmental protection. Precisely, it emphasizes the improvement of the existing ecological relationship between the diverse earth species.
Regenerative Agriculture
This agricultural method practices a sustainable approach in a true sense. With this, you grow crops while improving various environmental factors such as soil, climate, water, etc.
How Do Modern Technologies Affect Sustainable Agriculture?
Did you know that sustainable agricultural practices are not only better for the environment but also for human employment?
Let me explain why!
Since sustainable farming is a labor-oriented process, it can create 30% more employment opportunities than you can think of! Also, organic crops are high in market demand; hence they can generate huge profit.
Moreover, farming is now easier with biotechnology, precision agriculture, blockchain, satellite-drone images, GPS trackers, and AI, Machine Learning & IoT devices. With modern equipment, you can track crop growth & vital soil nutrients, & manage land, water, & other natural resources more efficiently.
So, if you plan to create your own farm, opt for sustainable farming practices for producing healthy crops & reducing resource waste. Moreover, try to connect with local people to find skilled laborers, better market reach, & huge profits.
So, let me know which crops have you grown so far!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: The organic farming method focuses on the usage of all-natural organic harvesting inputs. However, sustainable methods aim to grow healthy crops while improving & protecting the various environmental aspects such as water, soil, air, etc.
Ans: Due to high demand, the price of organically produced crops is quite high compared to those farmed by traditional methods. However, determining the prices of the food crops lies in the hands of the policymakers, local regulatory bodies, & market agents.
Ans: Non-organic food crops are not sustainable. Rather, organically produced food crops are truly sustainable as farmers take the environmental conditions & benefits into account while farming.