Diverse and divergent concepts

Recent years have witnessed an immense outpouring of published literature under the general heading of ‘Sustainable Agriculture‘. In preparing a report on “Sustainable agriculture and food security“ for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development a scientific Commission of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) reviewed some 300 related publications [ICSU-CASAFA 1991]. The Commission reported how ‘sustainable agriculture‘ is treated from a diversity of scientific, pseudo-scientific, biological, ecological, ideological and philosophical perspectives. The following are a sample of relevant significant publications referred to in the Commission's report: Agriculture Canada [1989], Altieri [1983], Boeringer [1980], Brown [1987], Brundtland [1987b], Bunting [1987], CGIAR/TAC [1989], Edwards et al [1990], FAO [1984], Harwood [1990], Jain [1983], NRC/NAS [1989], NABC [1989], Rodale [1983], Reganold and Papendick [1990], Swaminathan and Sinha [1986]. During the succeeding decade many more have been added.

As defined by the Brundtland panel, a sustainable agricultural system manages essential resources so as to satisfy the needs of all people presently dependent without compromising the needs of future generations. It is when authors try to prescribe agricultural production systems claimed to be of global ecological adaptability that confusions and contradictions arise. Geological and anthropological evidence indicate that, from the time of creation, the earth, its environment and inhabitant creatures have changed, sometimes gradually and evolutionary, sometimes in extreme and disruptive patterns. Many scientists contend that human activities are accelerating environmental and climatic change, some attributable to developments in agricultural technologies. The ICSUCASAFA report illustrates how the relevant literature presents divergent opinions and recommendations based on experience with different locations, ecologies, technologies, environmental, climatic, social and economic circumstances.