Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment

Balanced food security without compromising the ecosystem services is the dire need under the scenario of increasing global human population, declining reserves of natural resources and in the face of severe climate change induced uncertainty to environment and human health. In practice, both environmental and public health cannot be solved separately. Implementing sustainable agricultural practices can help to attain this through working in harmony with the natural processes to promote resilience of the agroecosystem for sustained production and the nourishment of the growing population. Thus, by delivering sustainable nutrition, sustainable agriculture makes the bridge between environmental and public health and aids towards developing a greener economy. Hence, the process of sustainable agriculture is discussed under both environmental and economic principles. Environmental criterion concern with technology protection or enhancing the farm resource base and thus improving soil productivity in terms of not only the quantity; but the quality while economic criterion is the technology meeting the farmer’s production goals and is profitable. Satisfaction of these two criteria demands specific knowledge on the linkages between environmental degradation and its potential pathways to marginalize. Use of non-labour variable inputs needs to be intensified that enhance soil fertility, pest management (such as inorganic and organic fertilizers, use of integrated pest management strategies) to safeguard the quality of the produce. To achieve this, cooperation from farmers and other rural community members is required in all processes of problem analysis, and technology development, adaptation and extension. A greater productive use of local knowledge and practices, including innovative approaches in agriculture is the urgent need while using sustainable agriculture for climate change, human and environmental health. Above all, existence of a robust policy and good institutional system to execute plays vital role for successful use of sustainable agriculture for healthy environment and climate resilience. Sustainable agriculture integrates the concept of continuing improvement in agriculture productivity, profitability and competitiveness by sustainable management of natural resources. One the eve of declining natural resources, changing climate and increasing food demands, the shift from the existing intensive production system to a more sustainable system needs to be an evolving and continuing process. In the proposed book, leading researchers in the field describe the principles, and synthesize recent advances and developments in sustainable agriculture research. This book is a ready reference on sustainability, sustainable agriculture and environment, and reinforces the understanding for its utilization to develop environmentally sustainable and profitable food production systems. The book describes the relationship of agriculture, society, nature and the environment; sustainable agriculture and sustainable development goals, management of biophysical resources for sustainable food and environment; traditional knowledge and innovative options; social and policy aspects of sustainable agriculture and environment.