Sustainable Agriculture: Biotechniques in Plant Biology
- New sustainable technological innovations in plant crop technology
- Rhizosphere engineering for future agricultural technology
- Nanotechnology and GM crops via genome editing now are an obligatory revolution to achieve the sustainable crop production
What is sustainable agriculture and why is it so important?
- Planting cover crops. Farmers plant crops such as buckwheat and cowpeas during the off-season time. ...
- Integrated pest management. Sustainable agriculture uses a variety of methods, including mechanical and biological ones, to keep the pest population under control. ...
- Integration of crops and livestock. ...
What is the main goal of sustainable agriculture?
- Satisfy human food and clothing (cotton, wool, leather) needs
- Enhance environmental quality and natural resources
- Use nonrenewable resources more efficiently
- Take better advantage of on-farm resources
- Employ natural and biological controls for pests and disease
- Sustain the economic viability of farming
What are the issues and challenges in sustainable agriculture?
Three key challenges facing agriculture and how to start solving them
- Current challenges facing the global food system. Let’s start with the most obvious one. ...
- Setting the table to address the triple challenge. These three challenges – feeding a growing population, providing a livelihood for farmers, and protecting the environment – must be tackled together ...
- Future policies may require new recipes. ...
What are some ways to support sustainable agriculture?
What Makes Agriculture Sustainable?
- Adopting Agroforestry Practices. ...
- Applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM) IPM is a collection of tactics for pest control that rejects the use of chemical pesticides, instead focusing on natural methods of control and prevention.
- Integrating Livestock and Crops. ...
- Managing Whole Systems and Landscapes. ...
- Planting Cover Crops. ...
- Reducing Tillage. ...
What is meant by sustainability in agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem services.
What is sustainable agriculture examples?
Cover crops such as clover, rye, or hairy vetch are planted during off-season times when soils might otherwise be left bare, while perennial crops keep soil covered and maintain living roots in the ground year-round.
What is sustainable agriculture and why is it important?
Sustainable agriculture is an integrated systematic approach to plant and animal production and distribution that protects the environment, expands the Earth's natural resource base, and makes the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources.
What are the 5 main components of sustainable agriculture?
The main components of both sustainable farming and conventional farming are exactly the same: soil management, crop management, water management, disease/pest management and waste management.
What is the advantage of sustainable agriculture?
Aside from preserving the earth's natural resources, sustainable farming helps the environment by reducing soil erosion, preserving water, and maintaining the quality of the soil. There is also increasing awareness about chemicals used in farming practices that lead to unsustainable agricultural environments.
What are the three main goals of sustainable agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. A variety of philosophies, policies and practices have contributed to these goals. Water.
What are the basic principles of sustainable agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture would contribute to all four pillars of food security – availability, access, utilization and stability – in a manner that is environmentally, economically and socially responsible over time.
How can we help sustainable agriculture?
9 Ways to Support Sustainable FoodStart your own garden (and raise your own chickens for eggs). ... Make your own organic soil. ... Eat local and organic. ... Close the loop. ... Join a local food club. ... Eat less meat, more veggies. ... Involve children. ... Volunteer with a sustainable farm or food justice organization.More items...
What are features of sustainable agriculture?
Ikerd (1990) describes sustainable agriculture operations as ones that are “capable of maintaining productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely. Such systems must be resource-conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive, and environmentally sound.”
What are some examples of sustainability?
The foundations of environmental sustainability are: safeguarding water, saving energy, reducing waste, using recyclable packaging, limiting or eliminating the use of plastics, using sustainable transport, reusing paper and protecting flora and fauna.
What are some examples of sustainable practices?
10 Simple Sustainability Practices You Can Do At HomeMake Use of Natural Light.Eliminate Useless Energy Waste.Stop Food Waste.Reuse Your Containers and Jars.Install Rainwater Tanks.Start Composting.Use Natural Cleaning Products.Choose Cloth Over Paper.More items...•
What is an example of a sustainable agriculture practice quizlet?
Planting different crops on a given plot of land every few years to maintain soil fertility and reduce pest outbreaks. Alternating different crops in adjacent strips, several rows wide; helps keep pest populations low.
How can we help sustainable agriculture?
9 Ways to Support Sustainable FoodStart your own garden (and raise your own chickens for eggs). ... Make your own organic soil. ... Eat local and organic. ... Close the loop. ... Join a local food club. ... Eat less meat, more veggies. ... Involve children. ... Volunteer with a sustainable farm or food justice organization.More items...
What is sustainable agriculture?
Sustainable Agriculture is a one year course designed to integrate biological science practices and knowledge into the practice of sustainable agriculture . The course is organized into four major sections, or units, each with a guiding question. Unit one addresses the question, What is sustainable agriculture? Unit two, How does sustainable agriculture fit into our environment? Unit three, What molecular biology principles guide sustainable agriculture? Unit four, How do we make decisions to maximize sustainable agricultural practices within a functioning ecosystem? Within each unit specific life science principles will be identified with agricultural principles and practices guiding the acquisition of this knowledge, culminating in the development of a sustainable farm model and portfolio of supporting student research.
Why is sustainability important?
Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment. (adapted from http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm)
How can biomass be used as energy?
Energy can be procured from biomass by turning it into a gas called biogas. The process will begin by students examining agricultural examples of biogas production (small scale composting, dairy lagoon gas extraction, codigestion, etc.) as well as the microbiological basis for biogas production, including aerobic and anaerobic fermentation, cellular respiration, lignocellulosic breakdown, etc. As part of this analysis, students will compare the amounts of biogas produced by different types of biomass. In order to quantify their findings, students will conduct an experiment with three soda bottles filled to the same volume with various types of biomass commonly used in biogas production. Bottle one will contain cow manure, bottle two will contain cow manure and household kitchen scraps, and bottle three will contain cow manure and a biological waste product of the students choosing (teacher approved). Bottles will be topped with a small balloon. Students will record the circumference of each of the balloons at the same time of day over a period of 10 days as well as record observations of the biomass inside of the bottles. Students will create a graph representing the circumference of balloons and the number of days. Students will compare graphs to determine which biomass type produced the fastest inflation of the balloon. Upon completion of the experiment, the students will then need to develop a written plan for how this naturally occurring byproduct can be harnessed to benefit a farming situation. In addition to incorporating their data, this plan should include: research on how the gas is used, the scientific processes behind biogas creation (fermentation, anaerobic digestion, etc.), biomass feedstocks that can be used to create efficient quantities of biogas, potential uses of biogas, and potential economic and sustainable benefits of instituting a biomass digester.
How do genetics help animals?
An animal that is genetically predicted to become heavier muscled in a shorter period of time will utilize less pasture and nutritive resources than one that takes longer to reach the same weight. A female who produces more milk to feed her offspring will utilize less resources for both her and her progeny. Therefore, summative phenotypic traits are important to evaluate in a sustainable ecosystem in order to efficiently utilize natural resources. By analyzing these traits students can determine the probability of the trait expression in an animal’s offspring. After instruction on chromosomal physiology, multicellular organization, animal anatomy, basic heredity, and genetic expression, students will identify desirable characteristics from a group of four animals of the same species to create a sustainable breeding plan that will include: hybrid vigor, genetic efficiency and other genetic traits. Students will use three components to evaluate the group of four animals that include the farmer’s sustainability scenario, expected progeny difference data and phenotypic evaluation of the animals. First students will read an agricultural producer’s written scenario that describes the targeted phenotypic traits a farmer desires based on the environment that must sustain the health and nutrition of the specific animals while not depleting the natural resources within that biological system. The parameters of the traits the students will evaluate include milk production (the weight of the weaned offspring that was contributed to the amount of milk the mother produced), weaning weight (the weight of the offspring when removed from the mother), yearling weight ( the weight of the offspring at eighteen months of age and birth weight (the weight of the offspring at birth). Next, the students will read and analyze Expected Progeny Difference (Summative phenotype expression) data. Finally, students will perform visual observations of the phenotypic traits in those four animals. Students will assess and prioritize the three analyzed components based on importance and collectively use them to place the four animals in phenotypic order from the most desirable for the environment to the least desirable according to the farmer’s sustainability scenario. Students will give an oral defense with evidence to support reasoning.
What is unit 2 in agriculture?
While unit one examined whole systems, unit two takes a closer look at components within that system. Students will use evidence gathered from a series of laboratory exercises to be able to describe the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another as well as the cycling of nutrients and energy through ecosystems. Students will be able to draw conclusions about these biogeochemical cycles and how they apply to sustainability of production agriculture. Specifically, students will conduct primary research in the areas of photosynthesis and chemical energy creation, nutrient cycling, transpiration and water use, ecological relationships and global farming practices in order to draw biologically-sound conclusions regarding the effects of agriculture on the natural environment. The students learning will culminate in a synthesis of concepts applied to the development of a three year sustainable crop rotation plan.
What are some examples of animal production practices?
For example, castration, tail banding, hoof trimming and vaccinations prevent pathogen (viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic) infections and thereby ensuring the health of the immune system, lymphatic system and respiratory system, among others . Shearing, clipping and dehorning are noninvasive procedures that provide recycling opportunities of animal byproducts but are also designed to maintain homeostasis and to protect vital organs throughout multiple systems (shearing reduces overall stress on the circulatory system, for example). Animal identification requires animals to have a traceable number like the scrapie tag that traces the animal to the breeder in case an animal tests positive for the genetic disease and ensure herd health (preventing disease outbreaks that can stress multiple systems).
What are the common applications of biological factors?
Labs and activities have been done in this unit that represent the common applications of biological factors such as genetic potential and variability of plants and animals , the symbiosis of animals and plants within an ecosystem and the impact of new species introduced into an established environment.
What is the goal of sustainable agriculture?
The goal of sustainable agriculture is to meet society’s food and textile needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Practitioners of sustainable agriculture seek to integrate three main objectives into their work: a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.
Who can play a role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system?
Every person involved in the food system—growers, food processors, distributors, retailers, consumers, and waste managers —can play a role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system. There are many practices commonly used by people working in sustainable agriculture and sustainable food systems.
What are the three areas of concern for sustainable agriculture?
The strategies are grouped according to three separate though related areas of concern: Farming and Natural Resources, Plant and Animal Production Practices, and the Economic, Social and Political Context. They represent a range of potential ideas for individuals committed to interpreting the vision of sustainable agriculture within their own circumstances.
How do consumers contribute to the food system?
Through their purchases, they send strong messages to producers, retailers and others in the system about what they think is important. Food cost and nutritional quality have always influenced consumer choices.
What is a systems approach?
A systems approach gives us the tools to explore the interconnections between farming and other aspects of our environment. Everyone plays a role in creating a sustainable food system. A systems approach also implies interdisciplinary efforts in research and education.
What is the principal resource that has helped agriculture and society to prosper?
Water . Water is the principal resource that has helped agriculture and society to prosper, and it has been a major limiting factor when mismanaged. Water supply and use. In California, an extensive water storage and transfer system has been established which has allowed crop production to expand to very arid regions.
How does agriculture affect air quality?
These include smoke from agricultural burning; dust from tillage, traffic and harvest; pesticide drift from spraying; and nitrous oxide emissions from the use of nitrogen fertilizer. Options to improve air quality include:
What is biological farming?
Biological farming is intermediate between conventional and organic, not as a compromise, but as a thoughtful systems approach. Biological farmers search for ways to have the farm biology and ecosystem provide services for free that the farmer would otherwise pay for through the use of chemistry or farm equipment.
What is chemical agriculture?
Conventional chemical agriculture now dominates the agricultural landscape in the developed world. It relies too heavily on mono-cropping a few major crops, fossil-fuel-based fertilizers, and intense use of chemicals for crop protection.
What is Midwestern BioAg?
Midwestern BioAg is working with ASU on several projects that will advance our understanding of biological farming. Scientists from the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute on Sustainability can help understand the full system dynamics as well as determine the carbon life cycle of biological farming compared to conventional or organic farming.
What are the microbial organisms that live in soil?
We now understand that microbial organisms in healthy soils (bacteria, fungi, protists, metazoans) have symbiotic relationships with plants and play a vital role in nutrient uptake that optimizes the health and growth of plants.
How do biological farmers help the environment?
And, because biological farmers work with nature instead of fighting it, the environmental benefits are enormous: substantial reduction in carbon footprint, increased drought resistance and improved water usage, reduction or elimination of nutrient runoff, and rebuilding of soils to counter-act erosion.
What was the Green Revolution?
The “Green Revolution” of the middle of the twentieth century consisted of improvements to crop genetics; biotechnology; expansion of irrigation infrastructure; the widespread use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides; and improvements in farm management practices. These are credited with more than doubling crop yields.
How do biological farmers feed microbial soil life?
Next, biological farmers feed microbial soil life by using carbon from compost, green manures, livestock manures and crop residues. They choose crop rotations and cover crops that increase biodiversity and fix atmospheric nitrogen, providing a free alternative to the most carbon-intensive input for chemical agriculture.
What is sustainable agriculture?
Under that law, “the term sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:
What is organic agriculture?
Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, or GMOs.
What is biological control?
Biological control (biocontrol) is the use of one biological species to reduce populations of a different species. There has been a substantial increase in commercialization of biocontrol products, such as beneficial insects, cultivated predators and natural or non-toxic pest control products. Biocontrol is being mainstreamed to major agricultural commodities, such as cotton, corn and most commonly vegetable crops. Biocontrol is also slowly emerging in vector control in public health and in areas that for a long time mainly focused on chemical vector control in mosquito/malaria—and black fly/onchocerciasis—control programs. Successful and commercialized examples of biocontrol include ladybugs to depress aphid populations, parasitic wasps to reduce moth populations, use of the bacterium Bacillus thuringenensis to kill mosquito and moth larvae, and introduction of fungi, such as Trichoderma, to suppress fungal-caused plant diseases, leaf beetle ( Galerucella calmariensis) to suppress purple loosestrife, a noxious weed (Figure 1). In all of these cases, the idea is not to completely destroy the pathogen or pest, but rather to reduce the damage below economically significant values.
Why do farmers rotate crops?
Farmers may also choose to rotate crops in order to reduce their production risk through diversification or to manage scarce resources, such as labor, during planting and harvesting timing. This strategy reduces the pesticide costs by naturally breaking the cycle of weeds, insects and diseases. Also, grass and legumes in a rotation protect water quality by preventing excess nutrients or chemicals from entering water supplies.
What is intercropping in agriculture?
Intercropping means growing two or more crops in close proximity to each other during part or all of their life cycles to promote soil improvement, biodiversity, and pest management. Incorporating intercropping principles into an agricultural operation increases diversity and interaction between plants, arthropods, mammals, birds and microorganisms resulting in a more stable crop-ecosystem and a more efficient use of space, water, sunlight, and nutrients (Figure 2). This collaborative type of crop management mimics nature and is subject to fewer pest outbreaks, improved nutrient cycling and crop nutrient uptake, and increased water infiltration and moisture retention. Soil quality, water quality and wildlife habitat all benefit.
What Is Sustainable Agriculture?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, sustainable agriculture is intended to protect the environment, maintain soil fertility, and even expand the natural resource base of the earth. The three main goals of sustainable agriculture are economic profitability for farmers; the promotion of environmental stewardship; and an increase in welfare for farmers, their communities, and their animals while producing enough to meet the needs of humans.
Why Is Sustainable Agriculture So Important?
This is important not only for us and our continued enjoyment of nature and natural resources but also for the animals with which we share our space. Sustainable agriculture does not support the housing of animals in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) that house upwards of 1000 animals in tight quarters, due to the detrimental impacts that these operations can have on the environment and public health. By moving toward more sustainable agriculture the welfare of both humans and animals can be improved.
What Makes Agriculture Sustainable?
There are a number of agriculture practices that can be implemented to support the sustainable production of food.
Why are antibiotics not used in agriculture?
Antibiotic Resistance: Because antibiotics are not used for preventive medicine in sustainable agriculture, implementing sustainable methods of production increases the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating people. Pandemics: Industrial agriculture, in which animals are kept in tight quarters, is a driver of disease.
Why are sustainable methods of production more likely to support and rely on the local economy?
Localization: Sustainable methods of production are more likely to support and rely on the local economy. Farms are no longer purchasing products, such as fertilizers and pesticides, from outside their communities, and instead are relying more heavily on local resources such as labor.
How has agriculture dominated food production in the United States?
It is characterized by large tracts of land planted with one crop, extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides, animals being held in CAFOs, and an emphasis on a select few crops that are used for animal feed and the production of processed foods.
How does agriculture affect the environment?
Environmental Impacts. Industrial agriculture is a driving force behind water pollution, soil degradation, and air pollution. The animals housed in CAFOs produce tons of manure every year which is either stored or applied to fields as a fertilizer.
IPM Is A Combination of Common-Sense Practices
Biological Control
- Biological control (biocontrol) is the use of one biological species to reduce populations of a different species. There has been a substantial increase in commercialization of biocontrol products, such as beneficial insects, cultivated predators and natural or non-toxic pest control products. Biocontrol is being mainstreamed to major agricultural commodities, such as cotton, …
Crop Rotation
- Crop rotations are planned sequences of crops over time on the same field. Rotating crops provides productivity benefits by improving soil nutrient levels and breaking crop pest cycles. Farmers may also choose to rotate crops in order to reduce their production risk through diversification or to manage scarce resources, such as labor, during planting and harvesting timi…
The Future of The Sustainable Agriculture Concept
- Many in the agricultural community have adopted the sense of urgency and direction pointed to by the sustainable agriculture concept. Sustainability has become an integral component of many government, commercial, and non-profit agriculture research efforts, and it is beginning to be woven into agricultural policy. Increasing numbers of farmers and...