What is sustainable agriculture?

Although everyone has different definitions of sustainable agriculture, in essence, sustainable agriculture is a kind of agriculture that not only meets current needs but also does not cause damage to the future, that is, it is environmentally friendly, socially responsible and beneficial to farmers. Sustainable agriculture is committed to achieving the best long-term results for forests, climate stability, people's rights and livelihoods.

Why do we urgently need to promote the sustainability of agriculture?

Deforestation due to agricultural land degradation (Peru)

By 2050, the world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion, so farmers need to produce more food. However, traditional farming methods have degraded the land and reduced the productivity of crops. Small farmers have to cut down nearby forests to find new fertile land. Although cutting down a few acres of trees will not cause massive greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate climate change, the industrial planting of large crops such as soybean and palm oil often requires more land, which undoubtedly brings greater pressure to small farmers. At this stage, we need to meet the needs of the expanding population and maintain the livelihood of small farmers. Therefore, farmers must adopt more sustainable agricultural practices.

Sustainable development is always a journey: first, farmers should stop injurious practices, such as deforestation and forced labor, and then gradually restore land and increase income. The Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard provides farmers with a road map for sustainable development.

Key elements of sustainable agriculture

Do you know? Agriculture has led to 80% deforestation of rainforest. Deforestation exacerbates climate change, which will have a negative impact on all mankind, especially small farmers. Their crops may be lost due to drought, floods, diseases and pests. Avoiding deforestation is a key step in agricultural sustainability.

In addition, planting new trees can make the farm more sustainable. Some crops, such as coffee and cocoa, thrive in the shade of trees. Cultivating existing trees and planting new trees side-by-side with crops, namely agroforestry, can bring us many benefits. The trees on the farm can connect the forest segments, which is beneficial to migratory species; The protective canopy can adjust the temperature and humidity; Many shade trees help to improve the health of the soil; Fruit-bearing shade trees such as bananas and mangoes can bring extra income. Most importantly, coffee grown in shade has a better taste because it matures slowly and tastes better and mellow.

Increase farmers' income

Maintaining farmers' livelihood is the premise of sustainable agriculture. Fortunately, many ways to increase farmers' income can also improve the health of the planet. For example, natural control of pests and weeds can reduce the demand for harmful pesticides, thus reducing costs. Planting fruit trees on the farm can provide farmers with additional sales products, and is conducive to carbon storage and soil nutrition.

Enterprises also play a vital role in raising farmers' income. The company can help farmers to bear the early costs of adopting sustainable practices and pay more for sustainable crops.

Higher wages and better working conditions

Most smallholder farms rely on family or community labor, but large farms often employ large numbers of workers. It is very important to give workers freedom of association so that they can organize and strive for higher wages and better working conditions. At the same time, it is also important to solve deep-rooted problems such as child labour and forced labour. Committed to the sustainable agricultural industry means the establishment and improvement of the system to find these problems and provide solutions.

Decent housing, workers' personal protective equipment, maternity leave and health and safety protection are also essential. Workers should receive at least the minimum wage, that is, living wage remuneration, so that they can achieve a decent standard of living, including food, water, housing, education, medical care, transportation, clothing and other necessities, including supplies for emergencies.

Maximize soil health and carbon storage

What is more important for farmers than healthy soil? The healthier the soil, the stronger its ability to retain water, and the more helpful it is for plants to resist drought. Healthy soil can also increase crop yields, thereby reducing deforestation caused by economic pressure on farmers. Organic compost can enrich the soil and reduce the demand for fertilizer that is expensive and pollutes waterways. In addition, planting different types of mulch crops in the off-season to prevent soil erosion can greatly improve soil quality. Another benefit they bring is that the covered crops can store half a ton of carbon dioxide per mu, which makes crop rotation a powerful natural climate solution.

water resources protection

The lack of water resources is one of the most urgent crises facing mankind. According to United Nations data, by 2050, more than 5 billion people will face water shortage due to pollution, climate change and increased demand. Some crops, such as coffee, not only require a large amount of water in the growth process, but also a large amount of fresh water in the processing stage. All processing water will eventually become waste water, polluting nearby rivers and streams. In order to make agriculture more sustainable, it is important to find ways to reduce water use and keep watercourses clean. Planting natural tree buffer zones along waterways is a practical and low-cost solution. Trees help prevent erosion and polluted runoff from entering rivers and streams, and can also store carbon.

Integrated control of weeds and pests

Excessive dependence on pesticides and herbicides brings high risks to the ecosystem. In addition, these harmful chemicals may also damage the health of farmers and their families. Therefore, we should phase out the most harmful chemicals and gradually reduce the use of other chemicals. The comprehensive control of diseases, pests and weeds includes the introduction of natural enemies of common diseases and pests, "selective weeding" to make beneficial weeds supplement the soil, and the prevention of excessive growth of weeds through regular pruning. At the same time, harmful weeds can be removed manually and converted into organic fertilizer. Although these methods require a certain amount of labor at the beginning, in the long run, they are usually proved to reduce costs and improve crop yields.

Gender equality

Although nearly half of the world's farmers are women, many people cannot own their own property or forest land due to legal or cultural restrictions. At the same time, they are often deprived of the right to education and excluded from the decision-making of agricultural cooperatives. However, research shows that gender equality in agricultural communities is crucial to food security and poverty eradication.

According to the data of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, when women farmers have equal access to resources and opportunities, the productivity of crops will increase by up to 20% - 30%. Reducing the gender gap will also have a significant impact on the welfare of children, because women are more inclined to invest their income in family health and education. Since women account for more than 40% of the agricultural workforce in low-income countries, gender equality is particularly important for a healthy and livable future.

What can companies, governments and consumers do?

We cannot put all the burden of promoting agricultural sustainability on farmers. Adopting more sustainable practices often requires a lot of investment, so companies and governments should play a leading role in responsible business practices and policies, and consumers can make more sustainable choices when purchasing products. Promoting the sustainable development of agriculture is a top priority, and everyone should contribute to it.