Sustainable agriculture for children
Sustainable agriculture or in a broader term, organic farming is using agricultural practices taking into account ecological cycles. It is also sensitive to microorganisms and their equations with the environment in general.
Sustainable agriculture or organic farming helps farmers to innovate and employ recycling methods, this apart from the conventional advantages of farming. A very good example of recycling in sustainable agriculture would be crop waste or animal manure.
The same can be transformed into fertilizers that can help enrich the soil. Another method that can be used is crop rotation. This helps the soil to maintain its nutrients and keeps the soil rich and potent.
Collecting rainwater by channeling it and then using it for irrigation is also a good example of sustainable agricultural practices. A variety of philosophies, policies and practices have contributed to these goals. People in different capacities, from farmers to consumers, have shared this vision and contributed to it.
What is sustainable agriculture and its importance
Climate change presents both challenges and opportunities for the food and agriculture sector. Sustainable agriculture is the future, the way to cope with increasing scarcity and accelerated degradation of natural resources.
It is a type of agriculture that is beneficial to the environment, and is therefore becoming increasingly important in the cultivation of crops. In the specific case of coffee cultivation, it contributes to the conservation of soils without harming the flora and fauna of the forests where the coffee plantations are located.
In view of the great use of chemical products and large quantities of water in world agricultural production, concern began to arise regarding a productive system that endangered existing resources.
Sustainable agriculture, in this definition of the United Nations, implicitly requires a new system of world governance. The objective is to ensure food security and promote local and regional agricultural markets in agricultural policies worldwide. In other words, a change of system and mentality.
Benefits of sustainable agriculture
Currently, 2 billion hectares that were once productive are degraded. Up to 44% of agricultural land is located in drylands, which are home to 30% of the world’s population (FAO, 2020). The current growth in agricultural production has such a large environmental impact that it is essential to promote sustainable agriculture.
Sustainability implies producing while meeting human needs, without destroying nature and making rational use of resources (Zarta, 2018). Sustainable agriculture is the result of individual action by farmers supported by environmental movements (Muro, n.d. b).
Sustainable agriculture is fundamental to face the environmental challenges of this time: degradation of natural resources, climate change, decoupling between production and conservation, and emergence of new diseases.
Sustainable food and agriculture contribute to the four pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization and stability) and to the three dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social and economic).
Sustainable agriculture examples
Sustainable agriculture is a type of agriculture that is characterized by offering greater environmental protection while seeking high levels of agricultural efficiency. It also proposes regional policies and seeks responsible sourcing.
As a result of these actions, rural environments or markets are the main recipients of this type of policy. The aim is to improve their living conditions, away from industrial operations, while at the same time ensuring their welfare.
Since its birth, in the seventies of the last century, it has been gaining relevance and presence in the social and political agenda. All this, together with a green and planet-friendly perspective.