Sustainable Agriculture: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Agriculture is the world’s largest industry. To understand how big it is, over 50 percent of habitable land on Earth is used to provide both habitat and food, for us and many other species. 

With our planet in a fragile state and the world facing challenges to feed a growing population, unsustainable habits of managing our existing resources need to be addressed first. But with this in mind, what is an alternative we can implement? This is where sustainable agriculture comes in. 

Sustainable agriculture is the production of plant and animal products that uses farming techniques that is aimed at protecting the planet, from the public health of communities to the welfare of animals. 

So why does sustainable agriculture matter? 

It conserves the environment and helps prevent pollution. Going on the route of sustainable practices enable farmers to reduce their reliance on chemicals to grow their crops and in turn, keeps the land healthy and in good condition to replenish itself. 

It can reduce costs. Farm to fork models has the potential to benefit the agriculture industry as a whole. By farming smarter and using the help of technology such as satellite imagery and IoT data, it can help farmers to determine when is a better time to grow. 

For consumers and retailers concerned about sustainability, purchasing food made using methods that lower pollution and promote soil health contributes actively to farmers’ wellbeing and the local community and economy. 

As consumers ourselves, we all play a key role in the food system and to understand our place in it means understanding our everyday choices and the effects it has on the planet. 

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