[...]... farming, sustainable agriculture, alternative agriculture, to name a few Definitions of what is and isn’t ‘organic’ are also extremely varied Some of the most important features of organic 10 Sustainable Agriculture Figure 2.1 Ryton Organic Gardens Vegetables growing at the Henry Doubleday Research Association grounds, United Kingdom production, as recognised by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture. .. government has established the Sustainable Development Commission The commission’s role is to advocate sustainable development across all sectors in the UK, review progress towards it, and build consensus on the actions needed if further progress is to be achieved The Sustainable Development Commission has published ‘A Vision for Sustainable Agriculture It states that agriculture must: • Produce safe,... plan Information on whole farm planning is readily available from agencies such as state government departments of agriculture, primary industries, conservation or land management Systems thinking in sustainable agriculture The role of the farmer in a systems or holistic farm approach to agriculture is to organise and monitor a whole system of interactions so that they keep one another in shape The farmer... control, soil testing and ridge tilling Currently, the US Government has a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) and an Integrated Farming Systems Program These programs point to a greater commitment to sustainable agricultural principles in the future The Australian government has acknowledged the need for sustainable development of agricultural industries’ to ‘contribute to’... improved decision making at a national and regional level These indicators have been used a basis for ongoing research and planning in the development of sustainable agriculture in Australia 2 Sustainable concepts There are many suggested solutions to the sustainable farming problem These range from ‘landcare’ and ‘conservation farming’ to ‘permaculture’, ‘biodynamics’ and ‘financial restructuring’ Most... education It is becoming increasingly evident that conventional agriculture is not a longterm option in developed or developing countries While developed countries are beginning to recognise and make policy decisions which recognise the importance of sustainable agriculture, many developing nations are not afforded this luxury Whether sustainable agricultural processes are a viable proposition in developing... vegetation An indication of sustainability Whether a farm is or is not judged to be sustainable will depend on the factors considered and the degree of importance attached to each factor An Australian government committee (SCARM) in 1992 identified four key factors which they considered key indicators for sustainable agriculture These are: • • • • Long-term real net farm income Land and water quality... Classes in Australia Class Description I Land suitable for all types of agriculture on a permanent basis II Land suitable for most types of agriculture on a permanent basis provided careful planning and simple modifications are applied (eg reduced tillage, fertiliser applications) III Arable land with moderate limitations for most types of agriculture provided careful planning and intensive management practices... Insects Fungal diseases Sustainable agriculture around the globe The widespread development of low input agricultural systems depends not only on the desires of farmers and consumers, but also upon national and international policy changes Many existing policies favour high input – high output agricultural systems However, governments around the world have begun to recognise the need for sustainable agricultural... maintaining life This layer of soil is the basis of most agriculture around the globe If soil is lost or degraded, the potential of an area to support both plant and animal life is greatly reduced Whilst the actual definition of sustainable farming varies somewhat, conservation and rejuvenation of agricultural soils are essential elements of any sustainable agricultural system It is important to understand . alt="" SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE JOHN MASON Second Edition National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication: Mason, John, 1951– . Sustainable agriculture. 2nd ed. ISBN 0 643 06876 7. 1. Sustainable. research and planning in the devel- opment of sustainable agriculture in Australia. Sustainable Agriculture 8 There are many suggested solutions to the sustainable farming problem. These range from ‘landcare’. farming, sustainable agriculture, alternative agriculture, to name a few. Definitions of what is and isn’t ‘organic’ are also extremely varied. Some of the most important features of organic Sustainable