IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i8p4086-d531249.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Principles of Sustainable Agriculture: Defining Standardized Reference Points

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Trigo

    (CETRAD—Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Ana Marta-Costa

    (CETRAD—Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Rui Fragoso

    (CEFAGE—Centre for Advanced Studies in Management and Economics, University of Évora, 7000-812 Évora, Portugal)

Abstract

No question remains regarding our need to change toward sustainable agriculture. When ranking the industries that have more prevalent environmental impacts, agriculture holds a considerable share of responsibility. However, as sustainability is an ambiguous concept surrounded by controversy and debate, rather than attempt to describe its meaning through a single universal definition, we instead stressed the need to delineate a set of fundamental principles. With the goal of putting the sustainable-agriculture concept into practice, an inductive qualitative content analysis was employed based on multivariate methods on hundreds of different definitions, theories, notions and sustainability indicators gathered through a deep-structured literature review. Through this novel approach, we were able to identify four fundamental principles for sustainable agriculture (integrated management, dynamic balance, regenerative design, and social development), and concluded that in order to shift our current agricultural systems into more efficient and sustainable ones, we need to start making better use of natural and human resources. This work provides guidelines for reference that can be used by anyone whenever they make a decision regarding sustainable agriculture or apply a methodology to assess a particular behavior, process or situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Trigo & Ana Marta-Costa & Rui Fragoso, 2021. "Principles of Sustainable Agriculture: Defining Standardized Reference Points," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4086-:d:531249
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/8/4086/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/8/4086/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hansen, J. W., 1996. "Is agricultural sustainability a useful concept?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 117-143.
    2. Jules Pretty & Tim G. Benton & Zareen Pervez Bharucha & Lynn V. Dicks & Cornelia Butler Flora & H. Charles J. Godfray & Dave Goulson & Sue Hartley & Nic Lampkin & Carol Morris & Gary Pierzynski & P. V, 2018. "Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(8), pages 441-446, August.
    3. Plumecocq, Gaël, 2014. "The second generation of ecological economics: How far has the apple fallen from the tree?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 457-468.
    4. Sarah Velten & Julia Leventon & Nicolas Jager & Jens Newig, 2015. "What Is Sustainable Agriculture? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-33, June.
    5. Pretty, Jules N., 1995. "Participatory learning for sustainable agriculture," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(8), pages 1247-1263, August.
    6. Paul Thompson, 1992. "The varieties of sustainability," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 9(3), pages 11-19, June.
    7. Hansen, J. W. & Jones, J. W., 1996. "A systems framework for characterizing farm sustainability," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 185-201, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hannah Romanowski & Lauren Blake, 2023. "Neonicotinoid seed treatment on sugar beet in England: a qualitative analysis of the controversy, existing policy and viability of alternatives," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 13(3), pages 453-472, September.
    2. Trigo, Ana & Marta-Costa, Ana & Fragoso, Rui, 2023. "Improving sustainability assessment: A context-oriented classification analysis for the wine industry," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Jorge Freitas & Pedro Silva, 2022. "Sustainable Agricultural Systems for Fruit Orchards: The Influence of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria on the Soil Biodiversity and Nutrient Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Ionuț-Alexandru Spânu & Alexandru Ozunu & Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag, 2022. "A Comparative View of Agri-Environmental Indicators and Stakeholders’ Assessment of Their Quality," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, March.
    5. Ramezani, Mohammadreza & Dourandish, Arash & Jamali Jaghdani, Tinoush & Aminizadeh, Milad, 2022. "The influence of dense planting system on the technical efficiency of saffron production and land use sustainability: Empirical evidence from Gonabad county, Iran," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 12(1).
    6. Dmitry A. Ruban & Natalia N. Yashalova, 2022. "Corporate Web Positioning as a Strategic Communication Tool in Agriculture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, July.
    7. El Mujtar, Verónica Andrea & Zamor, Ronie & Salmerón, Francisco & Guerrero, Adela del Socorro & Laborda, Luciana & Tittonell, Pablo & Hogan, Rose, 2023. "Lexical analysis improves the identification of contextual drivers and farm typologies in the assessment of transitions to agroecology through TAPE – A case study from rural Nicaragua," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    8. Valentina Quintarelli & Emanuele Radicetti & Enrica Allevato & Silvia Rita Stazi & Ghulam Haider & Zainul Abideen & Safia Bibi & Aftab Jamal & Roberto Mancinelli, 2022. "Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, December.
    9. Paweł Dziekański & Piotr Prus & Mansoor Maitah & Magdalena Wrońska, 2021. "Assessment of Spatial Diversity of the Potential of the Natural Environment in the Context of Sustainable Development of Poviats in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, September.
    10. Daniela Baldantoni & Alessandro Bellino & Angela Cicatelli & Stefano Castiglione, 2021. "Influence of the Choice of Cultivar and Soil Fertilization on PTE Concentrations in Lactuca sativa L. in the Framework of the Regenerative Agriculture Revolution," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-8, October.
    11. Ahmad Bathaei & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2023. "A Systematic Review of Agricultural Sustainability Indicators," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    12. Fredy Calizaya & Luz Gómez & Jorge Zegarra & Melvin Pozo & Carmen Mindani & Cirilo Caira & Elmer Calizaya, 2023. "Unveiling Ancestral Sustainability: A Comprehensive Study of Economic, Environmental, and Social Factors in Potato and Quinoa Cultivation in the Highland Aynokas of Puno, Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Klaas Calker & Paul Berentsen & Gerard Giesen & Ruud Huirne, 2005. "Identifying and ranking attributes that determine sustainability in Dutch dairy farming," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 22(1), pages 53-63, March.
    2. Judith Janker & Stefan Mann & Stephan Rist, 2018. "What is Sustainable Agriculture? Critical Analysis of the International Political Discourse," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Agnieszka Wojewódzka-Wiewiórska & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Piotr Sulewski, 2019. "Between the Social and Economic Dimensions of Sustainability in Rural Areas—In Search of Farmers’ Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Phélinas, Pascale & Choumert, Johanna, 2017. "Is GM Soybean Cultivation in Argentina Sustainable?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 452-462.
    5. Thanh Ngo & Hai‐Dang Nguyen & Huong Ho & Vo‐Kien Nguyen & Thuy T. T. Dao & Hai T. H. Nguyen, 2021. "Assessing the important factors of sustainable agriculture development: An Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles‐Analytic Hierarchy Process study in the northern region of Vietnam," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 327-338, March.
    6. Norman Siebrecht, 2020. "Sustainable Agriculture and Its Implementation Gap—Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-27, May.
    7. Rachel A. Bahn & Abed Al Kareem Yehya & Rami Zurayk, 2021. "Digitalization for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Potential, Status, and Risks for the MENA Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, March.
    8. H. Akcaoz & H. Kizilay, 2009. "Sustainability of dairy production in Turkey: A case study," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 55(1), pages 25-32.
    9. Sarah Velten & Nicolas W. Jager & Jens Newig, 2021. "Success of collaboration for sustainable agriculture: a case study meta-analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14619-14641, October.
    10. Trigo, Ana & Marta-Costa, Ana & Fragoso, Rui, 2023. "Improving sustainability assessment: A context-oriented classification analysis for the wine industry," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    11. Ionuț-Alexandru Spânu & Alexandru Ozunu & Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag, 2022. "A Comparative View of Agri-Environmental Indicators and Stakeholders’ Assessment of Their Quality," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, March.
    12. Gafsi, Mohamed & Legagneux, Bruno & Nguyen, Genevieve & Robin, Patrice, 2006. "Towards sustainable farming systems: Effectiveness and deficiency of the French procedure of sustainable agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 90(1-3), pages 226-242, October.
    13. de Olde, Evelien M. & Bokkers, Eddie A.M. & de Boer, Imke J.M., 2017. "The Choice of the Sustainability Assessment Tool Matters: Differences in Thematic Scope and Assessment Results," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 77-85.
    14. Ahmad Bathaei & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2023. "A Systematic Review of Agricultural Sustainability Indicators," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    15. Jill Nicholls & Adam Drewnowski, 2021. "Toward Sociocultural Indicators of Sustainable Healthy Diets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-9, June.
    16. Sarah Velten & Julia Leventon & Nicolas Jager & Jens Newig, 2015. "What Is Sustainable Agriculture? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-33, June.
    17. Piotr Sulewski & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Wojciech Sroka, 2018. "Relations between Agri-Environmental, Economic and Social Dimensions of Farms’ Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, December.
    18. Keith B. Matthews & Ansel Renner & Kirsty L. Blackstock & Kerry A. Waylen & Dave G. Miller & Doug H. Wardell-Johnson & Alba Juarez-Bourke & Juan Cadillo-Benalcazar & Joep F. Schyns & Mario Giampietro, 2021. "Old Wine in New Bottles: Exploiting Data from the EU’s Farm Accountancy Data Network for Pan-EU Sustainability Assessments of Agricultural Production Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-26, September.
    19. van Calker, Klaas Jan & Antink, Rudi H.J. Hooch & Beldman, Alfons C.G. & Mauser, Anniek, 2005. "Caring Dairy: A Sustainable Dairy Farming Initiative in Europe," 15th Congress, Campinas SP, Brazil, August 14-19, 2005 24234, International Farm Management Association.
    20. Wenfeng Chi & Yuanyuan Zhao & Wenhui Kuang & Tao Pan & Tu Ba & Jinshen Zhao & Liang Jin & Sisi Wang, 2021. "Impact of Cropland Evolution on Soil Wind Erosion in Inner Mongolia of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-16, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:8:p:4086-:d:531249. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.