Sustainable Agriculture

University of California Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture

Agriculture, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock. It’s hard for one to think cultivating the land as unsustainable, but within the past century agriculture has gradually turned into a full-fledged industry. With industrialization came problems such as:

•Pollution
o Air—pesticides, fertilizers, smoke, and dust
o Water—pesticides, nitrates and selenium
o Animal waste
•Natural resource degradation
o Water
o Soil erosion
o Mineral depletion
•Limited non-renewable energy resources
o Petroleum
•Wildlife endangerment

Farmers and ranchers have become aware of these issues and have made a commitment to convert to sustainable agriculture practices. At a university level, the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) reinforce these commitments. They have applied general principles to their management such as (1) select species and varieties well suited to the site and to conditions on the farm; (2) diversify crops and livestock to enhance the biological and ecological stability of the farm; (3) manage the soil to enhance and protect soil quality; (4) maximize natural, renewable and on-farm inputs; and (5) consider farmers’ goals and lifestyle choices.

Backing up the farmers and ranchers, SAREP researchers have been working to develop alternative sustainable technologies. The Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Program works to reduce pesticide use by applying biology to reduce pests in multiple crops. For example, in the Apple BIFS project researchers were able to reduce the amount of codling moths without pesticides through the use of mating disruption. The SAREP was also able to identify 6 biologically based alternatives to methyl bromide, a pre-plant soil fumigant or postharvest commodity treatment. Other techniques SAREP employed to create a sustainable food system included connecting local farms to the community to reduce transportation.

The public has also become increasingly aware of the impact agriculture has on our environment. Literature and media has educated consumers about the food system and its possible dangers. Consumers are beginning to make more “green” choices, such as buying organic and local produce. The consumer essentially drives the agriculture industry, because in the end the producer will do anything to create a more marketable product.

SAREP website: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/index.htm