Sustainable agriculture is a broad term that can include many different approaches and technologies. Basically sustainable differs from organic in that it is seeking to take a more elemental approach to seeing the benefits of organic farming as well as setting a higher standard so that many dubious practices of conventional farming are removed as we transition from organic to sustainable farming practices.
Sustainable farming therefore is a comprehensive approach to farming that includes careful consideration of environmental, social, cultural and human health factors as well as the economic imperative of financial profitability for the venture.
Sustainable agriculture is by its nature a complex creature. There are many considerations such as the ecological and social impacts of food production. Sustainable farming requires a holistic approach that can be broken down into four main groupings.
1. Types of inputs used in growing food such as pesticides and fertilizers
2. Energy inputs
a. Production of Crops
b. Transporting supplies for growing
c. Processing
d. Transport of crops to market
e. Transport for workers
3. Construction of the infrastructureóembodied energy
4. Types of crops grown (for example a diet heavy on grains and meat is less sustainable than a fruit, nut, legume and vegetable based diet)
While all organic farms must conform to the first criteria, few commercially viable organic farms presently qualify in all four categories.
Integrated Farming is one approach that has been developed by learning ancient Asian as well as other indigenous and rural practices from around the around the world. However here within the scope of the network described here in some detail, the focus has been Asia and in particular China where George Chan of Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives began his work on the study of a more Integrated Approach to pig and cattle farming. While designed for larger animals, this is really a system of permaculture that can be applied to many different situations.