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Unit 1: Conceptual Framework and Historical Foundations of Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture does not refer to a prescribed set of practices. Instead, it challenges us to consider the long-term effects of agricultural practices, and to look at the farm or ranch as a whole system. Farms and ranches are viewed as ecosystems, so to manage them well, we need to understand the water, nutrient and energy cycles underlying that system. We also need to be more aware of the interactions and relationships among plants, animals, insects and other organisms within the system. Sustainable agriculture also invites consumers and society at large to get more involved in agriculture by learning more about, and becoming active participants in, their food systems. Within this context, a major task for farmers and ranchers is to balance a wide range of goals and needs that encompass the farm itself, their family, business priorities and profitability, the wider community in which the farm exists, and their customers. Many of the topics in this description of sustainable agriculture are addressed in Courses 2 and 3 in this series:
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