Responsibility and Commitment

Sustainable Agriculture

The way humans practice agriculture changes throughout history.  In the twentieth century, the significant increased in production of food and fiber can be attributed to the development of technologies.  Through mechanization and petrochemicals, farmers were able to reduce labor needs and maximized production.  However, these advances also came with immense environmental costs such as groundwater contamination, topsoil depletion, loss of family farms, increased dependence on the use of fossil fuels and chemicals, loss of genetic variability in crops and disintegration of economic and social aspects of rural communities.  In a move towards earth friendly and socially responsible agricultural practice, sustainable agriculture has emerged in the last two decades and has garnered acceptance in the mainstream agriculture.  Read the University of California-Davis website to find out more about what is sustainable agriculture (# click on What is sustainable agriculture)?   Read David L. Williams article published in the Journal of Agricultural Education on Student's Knowledge of and Expected Impact from Sustainable Agriculture. 

Imagine a scenario whereby we are out of fossil fuels and all associated fossil fuel product such as fertilizer and chemical pesticide and herbicide.  Imagine that this happens overnight and we have no time to stockpile any fuel reserves. What if we are forced to use alternative forms of agriculture?  Can we do it and survive?  Read Eliza Barclay's article on (# required) Cuba's security in fresh produce.

The concept of sustainable agriculture has spurred various alternative farming systems such as low-impact sustainable agriculture, organic farming, community-supported agriculture. 

1. Low-impact sustainable agriculture (LISA)

Read the World Resources Institute article, "Cuba's Agricultural Return to Oxen and Organics."

2.    Organic Farming

Read the USDA website on # (required) Organic Food Production (Introduction only).

3.    Community Supported Agriculture.

Read the U. of Massachusetts Extension website on # (required) What is Community Supported Agriculture and how does it work? (read what is CSA; how does CSA work; distribution and decision-making; why is CSA important).  Find a community supported agriculture in your area by clicking on # CSA Farm Near You. (required)

After completing Unit IV Section C, please click on Unit IV Assignment.  Complete the assignments given and then return to the course evaluation. 

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# - Represents a required reading

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