Moving Towards Sustainable Agriculture
Through Higher Education
Jessica Zahra and Mark C. Mifsud
1 Introduction
Agriculture, as defined by Lehman, Clark and Weise (1993) consists of “activities which foster biological process involving growth and reproduction to provide
resources of value. Typically, the resources provided are plants and animals to be
used for food and fibre, although agricultural products are used for many other
purposes also” (p. 127). Agriculture has been evolving tremendously throughout the
years, with notions of sustainable agricultural practices becoming more popularised,
where economic viability is being given equal importance to environmental, habitat
and resource protection, along with the well-being of farmers and consumers of the
produce (Gold 1999).
The main aim of this study was to qualitatively research the local full-time arable
farmers’ perceptions on issues pertaining to sustainable agricultural practices. The
main research questions being:
• Are farmers aware of the negative impacts of commercial arable farming practices
on the environment?
• Through their life experiences and knowledge on the field, what are their views
of moving towards more sustainable farming practices?
• Are farmers willing to seek means of improving their practice while tackling daily
agricultural issues?
J. Zahra (B) · M. C. Mifsud
Centre for Environmental Education and Research, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta
e-mail: jessica.zahra.4@ilearn.edu.mt
M. C. Mifsud
e-mail: mark.c.mifsud@um.edu.mt
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities, Sustainability and Society: Supporting
the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63399-8_1
3
Through Higher Education
Jessica Zahra and Mark C. Mifsud
1 Introduction
Agriculture, as defined by Lehman, Clark and Weise (1993) consists of “activities which foster biological process involving growth and reproduction to provide
resources of value. Typically, the resources provided are plants and animals to be
used for food and fibre, although agricultural products are used for many other
purposes also” (p. 127). Agriculture has been evolving tremendously throughout the
years, with notions of sustainable agricultural practices becoming more popularised,
where economic viability is being given equal importance to environmental, habitat
and resource protection, along with the well-being of farmers and consumers of the
produce (Gold 1999).
The main aim of this study was to qualitatively research the local full-time arable
farmers’ perceptions on issues pertaining to sustainable agricultural practices. The
main research questions being:
• Are farmers aware of the negative impacts of commercial arable farming practices
on the environment?
• Through their life experiences and knowledge on the field, what are their views
of moving towards more sustainable farming practices?
• Are farmers willing to seek means of improving their practice while tackling daily
agricultural issues?
J. Zahra (B) · M. C. Mifsud
Centre for Environmental Education and Research, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta
e-mail: jessica.zahra.4@ilearn.edu.mt
M. C. Mifsud
e-mail: mark.c.mifsud@um.edu.mt
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities, Sustainability and Society: Supporting
the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, World Sustainability Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63399-8_1
3