Agricultural Sustainability: Principles, Processes, and Prospects

Description

Take a balanced look at ways to ensure food security and to work to erase hunger around the world Agriculture is the most aggressively managed ecosystem. Agricultural Sustainability: Principles, Processes, and Prospects provides a comprehensive examination of all facets of agricultural sustainability, beginning with the history of the evolution of the concept to the present. Challenges to... Read more

Take a balanced look at ways to ensure food security and to work to erase hunger around the world

Agriculture is the most aggressively managed ecosystem. Agricultural Sustainability: Principles, Processes, and Prospects provides a comprehensive examination of all facets of agricultural sustainability, beginning with the history of the evolution of the concept to the present. Challenges to sustainability are clearly presented along with practical strategies to counter prospective problems. This vital resource considers options for the future, as well as reviewing past approaches for their value in today’s world.

When one considers that the alternative to agricultural sustainability is the collapse of the world’s food systems, it is understood that compromise is impossible. Agricultural Sustainability takes a holistic approach to the issues that are involved in making agriculture ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible around the world. The book is divided into three parts. Part One clarifies the concept of agricultural sustainability, bringing a rational and balanced view of the core elements. Part Two discusses ways to promote sustainability in the world, including practical scientific and technological processes for improving yields while ensuring food security for future generations. Part Three peers into future decades, reviewing the vision documents of international agencies, their perceptions and expectations for the years ahead, and present dysfunctional aspects in the current food system. The book is extensively referenced and includes figures and charts to clearly explain data.

The book examines:

the historic evolution of the concept of agricultural sustainability
the combined effects of a multiplicity of agricultural systems
concepts for validating the sustainability of a production system
the role of natural capital in production
the role of science and technology in sustainable use
managing land, water, biodiversity, and energy
quantitative approaches to measuring agricultural sustainability
the current status of agriculture—and predictions for its growth in the coming decades
case studies of agricultural growth from India and China
problems—and possibilities—of creating a hunger-free world by the end of this century

Agricultural Sustainability is crucial, enlightening reading for field workers in NGOs and agricultural extensions; personnel in local, national, and international developmental organizations; and educators and students of sustainable agricultural production, food security, rural development, environmental science, and the conservation of natural resources. Read less

Foreword (M. S. Swaminathan)
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Introduction
Agricultural Sustainability Cannot Be Compromised
The Changing Face of Global Agriculture
Increasing Demands and Mounting Constraints
Holistic Approach to Sustainability
Organization of This Book
PART I: PRINCIPLES AND PARADOXES OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 2. Agricultural Sustainability: Principles and Paradoxes
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Development As a Harbinger of Sustainable Agriculture
Elements of Sustainable Agriculture
Hierarchy of Agricultural Systems and Trade-Offs
Temporal Dimension of Agricultural Sustainability
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Contextual Nature of Agricultural Sustainability
Diversity of Agricultural Systems
Determinants of Agriculture
General Profile of Current Agricultural Systems
Impact of Changes in the Determinants of Agriculture
Sustainability Conundrums
Sustainable Agriculture: An Evolving and Adaptive Process
Contextual Trade-Offs Among Elements of Agricultural Sustainability
Unified Principles, Different Approaches
Conclusion
Chapter 4. Conceptual Framework for Sustainability of Agricultural Production Systems
General Framework for Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Agricultural Production on a Small Farm
Production Pattern Is Not Always Consistent with Opportunities
Conclusion
PART II: OPERATIONALIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Chapter 5. Resources and Their Importance for Sustainable Agriculture
Resources and Agricultural Sustainability
Natural Capital
Ecosystem Goods and Services
Sustainable Agriculture and Ecosystem Services
Physical Capital
Human Capital
Social Capital
Conclusion
Chapter 6. Conservation of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture
Core Guiding Principles for Conservation of Natural Resources
Energy and Sustainable Agriculture
Monitoring and Evaluation of Sustainability
Socioeconomic Parameters and Sustainability
Pathway to Sustainable Agriculture
Conclusion
Chapter 7. Land Management for Sustainable Agriculture
Land and Crop Production
Soil Degradation and Its Impact on Agriculture
Sustaining Land Productivity
Framework for Land Management for Sustainable Agriculture
Soil Management and Sustainable Agriculture
Core Sustainable Soil Management Strategies
Efficient Use of Inputs and Sustainable Agriculture
Stressed Ecosystems and Context-Based Technologies
Conclusion
Chapter 8. Soil Quality and Sustainable Agriculture
What Is Soil Quality?
Components of Soil Quality
Measuring Soil Quality in Agriculture
Conclusion
Chapter 9. Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture
Freshwater Supply and Demand
Water for Agriculture
Future Constraints for Irrigated Agriculture
Water Shortage and Food Security Concerns
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Water in Agriculture
Improving Water Productivity in Agriculture
Equitable Distribution and Sharing of Water
Conclusion
Chapter 10. Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture
Biodiversity and Its Importance
Agroecosystems and Agricultural Biodiversity
Agricultural Intensification and Biodiversity
Impact of Biodiversity Reduction on Modern Agricultural Systems
Adverse Impact of Genetic Erosion of Food Crops
Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agricultural Biodiversity
Global Plan of Action for Conserving Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Practical Measures for Conserving Plant Genetic Resources
Conservation of Nonfood Components of Agricultural Biodiversity
Equitable Sharing of Benefits from Biodiversity Utilization
Conclusion
Chapter 11. Energy Management for Sustainable Agriculture
Energy and Agriculture
Energy Intensification in Agriculture
Impact of Low Energy Use in Agriculture
Energy and Agricultural Sustainability
Food-Energy Nexus and Integration
Biomass Energy and Rural Livelihoods
Other Renewable Sources of Energy
Conclusion
Chapter 12. Measurement of Agricultural Sustainability
Dimensions of Agricultural Sustainability
Partial Indices of Agricultural Sustainability
Soil Quality As an Indicator of Sustainability
Framework for the Evaluation of Sustainable Land Management
Conclusion
PART III: TRANSITION TO AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 13. Challenges to Global Agricultural Sustainability
Current Strengths and Concerns
Prognosis for the Future
Proposed Models and Pathways for Sustainability
Future Challenges for Agricultural Sustainability
Physical Constraints
Socioeconomic Constraints
Conclusion
Chapter 14. Achieving Agricultural Sustainability in the Future
Focus on Differential Capabilities of Resources
Sustainable Intensification of High-Potential Lands
Holistic Technologies
Frontier Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Intensification of Low-Potential Areas
Ensuring Food Security for All
Ameliorating the Gender Issue in Sustainable Agriculture
Coping with Climate Change
Agriculture and Trade Liberalization
Conclusion
Chapter 15. Sustainable Livelihoods and Rural Development
Sustainable Agriculture As a Rural Development Paradigm
Natural Resources for Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods
Technology and Sustainable Livelihoods
Case Studies in Livelihood Creation for Rural Development
Facilitation of Livelihood Opportunities
Conclusion
Chapter 16. Summary and Conclusions
Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Development
Transition to Agricultural Sustainability
Agricultural Sustainability in the Future
Ethics and Sustainable Food Security
Bibliography
Index
Reference Notes Included

Editor(s)

Biography

Saroja Raman

Agricultural Sustainability Principles, Processes, and Prospects

Description

Table of Contents

Editor(s)

Biography

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