Sustainable Agriculture

agriculture definition

Economic value of wild areas:

 argument for continued development is that the development is necessary for economic growth, and growth is necessary for economic health. I find this argument to be fallacious, for compelling reasons. is that the paradigm of indefinite economic growth without bound is a flawed. Resources are always limited, and there is only a sure capacity of goods that can be produced sustainably. Achieving sustainability requires abandoning this elderly model of economic growth.

agriculture definition

The key issue in sustainability, most important than all other issues, is leaving intact ecosystems, and not clearing or developing over a sure portion of wild areas for agriculture or human use. The rule of thumb or target that I am liking to shoot for is to leave 70% of land as intact wild ecosystem. This does not mean that the land is not being used in any way, but only that it is not being directly used for agriculture or other makes use of (i.e. crops are not being grown there, timber is not being harvested, people are not living there), and that whatever makes use of of the land only have negligible impacts on the ecosystem.

My second reason, however, is that intact wild ecosystems are actually necessary for sustained economic health, in the agricultural sector, but also in virtually all other aspects of society as well.

agriculture definition

Direct economic benefits of wild areas:

Indirect economic benefits of wild areas:

In terms of direct effects, intact wild ecosystems provide a buffer which prevents the spread of insects, diseases, and other pests which can destroy crops. Our current unsustainable agriculture system depends on expensive chemical control systems to control pests, which are continually adapting. A sustainable system would depend on natural buffer zones, which not only prevent the spread of disease, but also house predators which feed on insect pests, thus making it unlikely for pests to get established among crops in the first place. The organic farms and gardens that I have worked with which practice crop diversification and the use of wild buffer areas around the operation comment that they usually have  no issue with pests.

Indirect effects, however, are even stronger. Wild ecosystems stabilize climate and weather, which can greatly reduce or even prevent natural disasters like water, drought, and moderate temperature and humidity, diminishing the severity of extreme weather events like chilled or hot spells. Wild ecosystems can also produce numerous resources, including foods, which can be sustainably harvested, including wild fish and meat, and plants for food or medicinal use. Wild areas also provide beauty, increasing land value in nearby residential areas, and providing recreation and income to local economies through tourism. Often, an intact wild area can have numerous different makes use of. And finally, ecosystems also filter and purify water and air, thus lowering health care costs and diminishing the necessity for burdensome environmental regulations.



agriculture definition