Traditional plowing (tillage) prepares fields for planting and prevents weed problems but can cause soil loss. These crops protect and build soil health by preventing erosion, replenishing soil nutrients, and keeping weeds in check, reducing the need for fertilizers and herbicides. Planting cover crops and perennials. Cover crops such as clover, rye, or hairy vetch are planted during off-season times when soils might otherwise be left bare, while perennial crops keep soil covered and maintain living roots in the ground year-round. Crop diversity practices include intercropping (growing a mix of crops in the same area) and complex multiyear crop rotations. Planting a variety of crops can have many benefits, including healthier soil and improved pest control. Through decades of science and practice, the following farming practices have proven effective in achieving sustainability, especially when used in combination: And by prioritizing science that addresses the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social factors, we can create a truly sustainable system.
By working with nature rather than against it, farms can avoid damaging environmental impacts without sacrificing productivity or profitability. There’s a whole field of research devoted to achieving these goals: agroecology, the science of managing farms as ecosystems. Such a system supports the next generation of farmers, deals fairly with its workers, promotes racial equity and justice, creates access to healthy food for all, and prioritizes people and communities over corporate interests. Increasing resilience to extreme weatherĪn economically and socially sustainable agriculture system is one that enables farms of all sizes to be profitable and contribute to their local economies.Building healthy soil and preventing erosion.Environmental sustainability, for example, means good stewardship of the natural systems and resources that farms rely on. OK, so sustainable agriculture is the wave of the future. The best part? A growing body of scientific evidence has shown that a more sustainable model can be just as productive and profitable over time-and can meet our needs for the long haul. Though the move to this type of system often involves some up-front costs, smart public policies can help farmers make the shift. Sustainability also means the whole system is more resilient to droughts, floods, and other impacts of climate change that farmers are already seeing. It uses state-of-the-art, science-based practices that maximize productivity and profit while minimizing environmental damage. This system has room for farms of all sizes, producing a diverse range of foods, fibers, and fuels adapted to local conditions and regional markets. This system is not built to last, because it squanders and degrades the resources it depends on.īut a growing number of innovative farmers and scientists are taking a different path, moving toward a farming system that is more sustainable-environmentally, economically, and socially. There’s a transformation taking place on farms across the United States.įor decades, we’ve produced the bulk of our food through industrial agriculture-a system dominated by large farms growing the same crops year after year, using enormous amounts of chemical pesticides and fertilizers that damage our soil, water, air, and climate.
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