Toward sustainable agricultural systems in the 21st century / Committee on Twenty-First Century Systems Agriculture, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Division on Earth and Life Sciences.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Twenty-First Century Systems Agriculture.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sustainable agriculture--United States.

Sustainable agriculture.

Agricultural systems--United States.

Agricultural systems.

Sustainability--United States.

Sustainability.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (599 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, c2010.

Summary:

"In the last 20 years, there has been a remarkable emergence of innovations and technological advances that are generating promising changes and opportunities for sustainable agriculture, yet at the same time the agricultural sector worldwide faces numerous daunting challenges. Not only is the agricultural sector expected to produce adequate food, fiber, and feed, and contribute to biofuels to meet the needs of a rising global population, it is expected to do so under increasingly scarce natural resources and climate change. Growing awareness of the unintended impacts associated with some agricultural production practices has led to heightened societal expectations for improved environmental, community, labor, and animal welfare standards in agriculture. Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century assesses the scientific evidence for the strengths and weaknesses of different production, marketing, and policy approaches for improving and reducing the costs and unintended consequences of agricultural production. It discusses the principles underlying farming systems and practices that could improve the sustainability. It also explores how those lessons learned could be applied to agriculture in different regional and international settings, with an emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. By focusing on a systems approach to improving the sustainability of U.S. agriculture, this book can have a profound impact on the development and implementation of sustainable farming systems. Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century serves as a valuable resource for policy makers, farmers, experts in food production and agribusiness, and federal regulatory agencies."--Publisher's description.

Contents:

FrontMatter

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

Executive Summary

Summary

1 Understanding Agricultural Sustainability

2 A Pivotal Time in Agriculture

3 Improving Productivity and Environmental Sustainability in U.S. Farming Systems

4 Economic and Social Dimensions of the Sustainability of Farming Practices and Approaches

5 Examples of Farming System Types for Improving Sustainability

6 Drivers and Constraints Affecting the Transition to Sustainable Farming Practices

7 Illustrative Case Studies

8 Sustainable Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: "Lessons Learned" from the United States

9 Conclusions and Recommendations

Appendixes

Appendix A: Statement of Task

Appendix B: Biographical Sketches

Appendix C: Presentations to the Committee on 21st Century Systems Agriculture

Appendix D: Follow-up of the 1989 Case Studies Featured in Alternative Agriculture Report: Topics of Discussion During Telephone Interview

Appendix E: Dairy Farms: Topics of Discussion During On-Farm Interview

Appendix F: Grain Farms: Topics of Discussion During On-Farm Interview

Appendix G: Specialty-Crop Farms: Topics of Discussion During On-Farm Interview.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786612787317

9780309157490

0309157498

9781282787315

1282787314

9780309148979

0309148979

OCLC:

923282153