4
J. Zahra and M. C. Mifsud
The study will also delve into how universities and higher educational institutions
may come about tackling issues of sustainability within society, in this particular
case seeking the role of the SDGs in sustainable agricultural practices.
The major findings of this study focus on the current local, Maltese farming situation, delving into issues and possibilities of targeting more sustainable farming
practices, considering the environmental, economic and social aspects of this local
primary industry. This study aims to bring to light farmers’ concerns and daily
issues faced in their practice, helping identify their perceptions and attitudes towards
sustainable agriculture, helping to find the most viable means of adapting such
sustainable strategies through higher education input.
2 Literature Review
2.1 Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is not agriculture without risk, which would be unrealistic to expect.
It is agriculture that is able to manage risk and maintain its resilience in the face of change
and inevitable surprise.
(Pinter 2007, p. 22).
Agriculture has a major role to play in environmental protection, social wellbeing
and economic growth. Alonge and Martin (1995) discuss the various changes taking
place within the agricultural sector, all directed to minimise the negative effects this
primary industry has, especially on the environment.
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO 2016) expects that by 2050, 60%
more food production is needed to feed an anticipated 9 billion global population. The
increase in global food production is expected to impact the natural resources, mainly
water used for irrigation purposes, the land and its nutrients, such as phosphates (GIZ
2015). The 2030 Agenda (FAO 2016), recognizes that agriculture today faces more
challenges than ever before, needing to feed more people, with a lack of water,
reduced land productivity and a decreasing agricultural workforce, enforcing the
need for global agricultural sustainability.
Scherer, Verburg and Schulp (2018) discuss the role of sustainable intensification
and global food security, stating that “Ideally, sustainable intensification implies
more production on the same land area while reducing environmental impacts and
maintaining ecosystem functioning” (p. 43).
Farmers need to be open to adopt innovative techniques and technologies in order
to cater for more sustainable practices. However, it is not only the job of farmers
to guarantee sustainable practices, but consumers also play a crucial role. The more
industrialised agriculture has become, the more people have begun to realise “that
agriculture does more than simply produce food, animal feed and energy. It also has
impacts on the climate, human health, and global ecosystems” (GIZ 2015, p. 5).
J. Zahra and M. C. Mifsud
The study will also delve into how universities and higher educational institutions
may come about tackling issues of sustainability within society, in this particular
case seeking the role of the SDGs in sustainable agricultural practices.
The major findings of this study focus on the current local, Maltese farming situation, delving into issues and possibilities of targeting more sustainable farming
practices, considering the environmental, economic and social aspects of this local
primary industry. This study aims to bring to light farmers’ concerns and daily
issues faced in their practice, helping identify their perceptions and attitudes towards
sustainable agriculture, helping to find the most viable means of adapting such
sustainable strategies through higher education input.
2 Literature Review
2.1 Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is not agriculture without risk, which would be unrealistic to expect.
It is agriculture that is able to manage risk and maintain its resilience in the face of change
and inevitable surprise.
(Pinter 2007, p. 22).
Agriculture has a major role to play in environmental protection, social wellbeing
and economic growth. Alonge and Martin (1995) discuss the various changes taking
place within the agricultural sector, all directed to minimise the negative effects this
primary industry has, especially on the environment.
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO 2016) expects that by 2050, 60%
more food production is needed to feed an anticipated 9 billion global population. The
increase in global food production is expected to impact the natural resources, mainly
water used for irrigation purposes, the land and its nutrients, such as phosphates (GIZ
2015). The 2030 Agenda (FAO 2016), recognizes that agriculture today faces more
challenges than ever before, needing to feed more people, with a lack of water,
reduced land productivity and a decreasing agricultural workforce, enforcing the
need for global agricultural sustainability.
Scherer, Verburg and Schulp (2018) discuss the role of sustainable intensification
and global food security, stating that “Ideally, sustainable intensification implies
more production on the same land area while reducing environmental impacts and
maintaining ecosystem functioning” (p. 43).
Farmers need to be open to adopt innovative techniques and technologies in order
to cater for more sustainable practices. However, it is not only the job of farmers
to guarantee sustainable practices, but consumers also play a crucial role. The more
industrialised agriculture has become, the more people have begun to realise “that
agriculture does more than simply produce food, animal feed and energy. It also has
impacts on the climate, human health, and global ecosystems” (GIZ 2015, p. 5).