Review of unsustainable agriculture

[Name of the Institute]

Abstract

This research paper is an effort to identify the concept of unsustainable land use practices. This paper discusses the unsustainable social, economic, and ecological aspects of unsustainable agricultural practices taking place across the globe. A critical analysis of these aspects is done in this paper. In the final section, possible steps and solutions towards promoting sustainable agriculture are presented.

Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Description of Unsustainable Agriculture1

Critique of unsustainable features of agriculture2

Economic Features2

Ecological Features2

Social Features3

Social Features3

Regulatory deficiencies associated with land use4

Solutions towards sustainable agriculture4

Improvement in Water and Air Quality4

Requirement of Land Reform4

Substitution of environmentally sound inputs5

Preventing fishery projects and destructive forestry5

Land Utilization5

Labour5

Consumers Role6

Agricultural aid for researching ecological farming practices6

Flow of agricultural aid in the right direction6

Steps required by aid and international technical agencies7

Commitment by loan aid agencies7

Other Required Steps7

Conclusion7

References8

Review of unsustainable agriculture

Introduction

The concept of sustainability is defined as an organizing principle that fosters a well-functioning alignment between society, individuals, economy, and the regenerative capacity of life supporting eco systems of the planet Earth. This alignment represents a specific type of balance in the interaction between the capacity of the environment and population. Sustainability emphasizes on the cross generational equity. However, this concept poses difficulties because it is quite difficult to predict the needs and requirements of the future generations (Ben-Eli, 2006).

Sustainable land use is the concept of using land assets in a manner that offers benefits to the local economy and restores soil nutrients via tree roots and organic measures. Using intensive management of trees, shrubs, and land can be incorporated into alternative and conventional crop plantings, providing for diversity of income, improved water and soil quality, and increased wild life population. Landowners are also able to enhance the biodiversity of their land and reduce erosion while working towards sustaining the land for future generations (Wit & Verheye, n.d.).

In this research paper, sustainable agriculture is chosen as a land use. Agriculture is one of the most outstanding challenge and issue for the sustainability objective to solve. In order to attain sustainable agriculture, urgent actions are required in social, economic and environmental fronts (Khor, 2003). Social, economic, and environmental concerns present substantial challenges to sustainable agriculture. Particular issues include economic comparisons among non-conventional and conventional farming practices, farm profitability, fair trade, viability of rural communities, and agricultural labour.

Description of Unsustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture maintains social, ecological and economic viability while preserving the high quality and productivity of land. In order to be sustainable, agriculture can operate only when its caretakers, environment, and surrounding communities are healthy. Likewise, unsustainable agriculture does not satisfy human requirements and needs, improve natural resource base and environmental quality, make the most effective use of non-renewable resources, sustain economic viability, integrate natural process that are biological in nature, and improve overall quality of life (Halliday & Schuttelaar, 2009).

Sustainable agriculture is integration of natural biological controls and cycles, protection and renewal of soil fertility and the natural resource base, optimization of the utilization and management of on-farm resources, reduction in utilization of purchased production inputs and non-renewable resources ...