3.2 Sustainable Agriculture
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3.2.1 Organic Farming
Organic farming emerged during World War II due to technological advances that
led to input-intensive agriculture as well as industrialization, which resulted in
the availability of many fertilizers. However, farmers globally believed that inputintensive agriculture would result in land degradation and unsustainable production.
Consequently, they rejected the idea and commenced studying and developing methods that increased sustainable production of their farms (Meng et al. 2017). This
became referred to as organic farming as farmers became farm stewards. Organic
farming had the same principles as sustainable agriculture, including natural plant
fertilization, ecological balance, natural pest management, biodiversity, sustainability, and soil integrity. However, organic products can be produced unsustainably on
farms that have not been certified organic. For instance, some organic dairy farms
raise cows within large facilities but can meet the requirements for certification.
Despite organic farming not being overly sustainable, many of its practices can be
perceived as sustainable. When shopping, you should consider the organic label
as a valuable tool since it enables you to get food that is free from pesticides and
artificial hormones (Meng et al. 2017). The easiest way of avoiding the confusion is
to buy whole fruits, vegetables, and dairy products from an organic producer. In case
you seek to purchase processed commodities, get them from local and independent
sources as they have a less likelihood of having additives and preservatives.
Discuss two other specific roles of organic farming.
3.2.2 Specific Roles of Sustainable Agriculture
3.2.2.1 Environmental Preservation
Sustainable farms often raise animals and produce crops without depending on
synthetic fertilizers, toxic chemical inputs, genetically modified seeds, or any other
practices that pollute natural resources. Through the growth of various plants,
the use of techniques such as conservation tillage, and livestock farming based
on pasture and crop rotation, sustainable farms play a crucial role in protecting
biodiversity and fostering the development of healthy ecosystems (Gold 2016).
3.2.2.2 Health Protection
Sustainable agriculture acknowledges that food production should never be done
without considering its impact on human health. Sustainable crop farms tend to
57
3.2.1 Organic Farming
Organic farming emerged during World War II due to technological advances that
led to input-intensive agriculture as well as industrialization, which resulted in
the availability of many fertilizers. However, farmers globally believed that inputintensive agriculture would result in land degradation and unsustainable production.
Consequently, they rejected the idea and commenced studying and developing methods that increased sustainable production of their farms (Meng et al. 2017). This
became referred to as organic farming as farmers became farm stewards. Organic
farming had the same principles as sustainable agriculture, including natural plant
fertilization, ecological balance, natural pest management, biodiversity, sustainability, and soil integrity. However, organic products can be produced unsustainably on
farms that have not been certified organic. For instance, some organic dairy farms
raise cows within large facilities but can meet the requirements for certification.
Despite organic farming not being overly sustainable, many of its practices can be
perceived as sustainable. When shopping, you should consider the organic label
as a valuable tool since it enables you to get food that is free from pesticides and
artificial hormones (Meng et al. 2017). The easiest way of avoiding the confusion is
to buy whole fruits, vegetables, and dairy products from an organic producer. In case
you seek to purchase processed commodities, get them from local and independent
sources as they have a less likelihood of having additives and preservatives.
Discuss two other specific roles of organic farming.
3.2.2 Specific Roles of Sustainable Agriculture
3.2.2.1 Environmental Preservation
Sustainable farms often raise animals and produce crops without depending on
synthetic fertilizers, toxic chemical inputs, genetically modified seeds, or any other
practices that pollute natural resources. Through the growth of various plants,
the use of techniques such as conservation tillage, and livestock farming based
on pasture and crop rotation, sustainable farms play a crucial role in protecting
biodiversity and fostering the development of healthy ecosystems (Gold 2016).
3.2.2.2 Health Protection
Sustainable agriculture acknowledges that food production should never be done
without considering its impact on human health. Sustainable crop farms tend to