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What is Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is a new way of farming that ensures not only the full use of land resources but also creates favourable conditions for environmental security and the renewal of the fertility of a particular ecosystem.

This method is new in science. The world heard the term for the first time only in the 80s of the last century. It originated in Australia and quickly spread throughout the world. This method is actively supported in an ecological environment.

Which is the goal of Sustainable Agriculture?

● The main goal of this method is to make agriculture ecological. The tasks of farmers are, foremost, the preservation of soil fertility. What would agriculture be like without fertile soil, right?

● The most important goal of sustainable farming is to keep fresh water clean. More and more rivers are being polluted, primarily due to poor agricultural techniques.

● And, of course, sustainable agriculture is one of the ways to prevent climate change. After all, climatic conditions are the most important factor in the development of lands and their resources. Sustainable agriculture pursues all these goals – and thus it tries to establish a relationship with “Agriculture & The Environment.''

What are the benefits of sustainable farming?

Sustainable agriculture has a list of benefits. They are:

1) Involving ecological and biological processes in agricultural and food production practices. For example, nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, and soil health. This way, sustainable farming gives profitable results for farmers. It improves efficiency with natural and safe resources. Moreover, a huge environmental impact of agriculture is that the environment uses fewer purchased inputs. As we can see, sustainable farming is important and loyal to farmers as well as consumers. 

2) Using natural resources that do not cause damage to ecosystems. The resources should be renewable and cycling as well. Farmers find ways to work with nature by focusing on biodiversity, pest management, water conservation, and soil health. This way they lower the tillage and chemical inputs usage as much as possible. Sustainable farming is obliged to be ecological and to use revolving resources. This way it keeps biorhythms cycling, which means that they continue to live.

3) Making agriculture productive. Each farmer gains his own experience and can do productive work. Productivity is not only about the number of products done by each farming team, but it is also about multitasking. Sustainable farming takes care of biodiversity, people’s health, and even climate change. 3 tasks at once! That’s the best agriculture method for the 21st century.

4) And the last but not the least benefit is cooperating with communities. Nowadays, new methods in agriculture and in life in general can be spread only by talking and sharing information with other people. It is important to focus on improving the social aspect of sustainable agriculture. The more people learn about it, the better it will be for nature. Communities must see the effectiveness and the necessity of sustainable agriculture practices and how they are used locally by farmers of certain regions or cities. Seeing the result of the methods is the main factor in success. In addition, people will see that sustainable farming is useful for them. Therefore, they can improve their quality of life by participating in it.

How to Choose the Right Companies for Sustainable Agriculture

The first and most important criterion in choosing the right company is to see that it promotes and holds sustainable farming. You must see examples of sustainable agriculture on your own, such as using cover crops, reducing tillage, and providing soil health in general. If it does, then this company is interested in working in ecological agriculture.

Then, point out the goals of the company and the place it is located in. Of course, it would be inconvenient for you to cooperate with a company from another city or village. You should have business with a company nearby to make the processes quicker and simpler. Sustainable agriculture has to be equally important for both you and the company you are willing to work with. Be sure that your aims for the future are the same.
Nonetheless, one of the main points to pay attention to is the way the company produces nutrition. The process of food production must use natural and renewable resources only. The perfect sign of it is growing cover crops that help the soils to be healthy and fertile. This way the company also takes care about water quality and improves the bottom line. In addition, growing cover crops is strongly connected with reducing tillage. So the soil stays useful for us and can give us more and more harvest every year. All these processes slow the erosion and even help in breaking up compacted soils. Of course, the company should mention the fact of ecological pest management by not using chemical poisons. It could be dangerous for people’s health to consume the harvest that has been grown under chemical hazardous substances. In fact, the food production process must be ecological and safe.

However, that’s not the very end. Ecological agriculture pays huge attention to waste utilization. In the first stages of food production, a company must sort raw materials and finished products. If there is waste, it must be sorted into a number of categories, such as organic, recycled, and so on. A careful approach to sorting and disposal of waste speaks of the rationality and responsibility of the company. Of course, the production of sustainable agriculture should strive for zero waste. However, the minimum allowable amount of waste, which one way or another may appear, should not harm the environment and have secondary ways of processing.

The choice of a company for sustainable farming must be wisely and carefully. Each point should be taken to note. Remember, that the main condition of working in sustainable agriculture is to help the ecosystem you live in.

FAQs:

1. What is organic agriculture?

Organic agriculture is a farming method that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. Instead, it relies on natural processes and materials to maintain soil fertility and control pests.

2. What are the benefits of sustainable agriculture and farming?

Sustainable agriculture and farming practices help preserve the environment, improve soil health, conserve water, and reduce pollution. They also support biodiversity and provide long-term economic benefits for farmers.

3. What is biological agriculture?

Biological agriculture focuses on using natural processes and organisms to enhance soil health, control pests, and promote plant growth. It involves practices like composting, crop rotation, and the use of beneficial insects.

4. What are some organic agriculture techniques?

Organic agriculture techniques include crop rotation, green manure, composting, and biological pest control. These methods help maintain soil fertility, reduce erosion, and minimize the need for chemical inputs.

5. How does sustainable agriculture contribute to environmental protection?

Sustainable agriculture practices reduce the environmental impact of farming by minimizing soil erosion, conserving water, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing biodiversity. These practices help protect natural resources and ensure long-term agricultural productivity.