Sustainable Agriculture: A Twenty-First-Century System

U.S. agriculture has been very productive during the past fifty years. A number of unexpected consequences, however, are believed to be detrimental to the long-term interests of our nation's agriculture and natural resources. In response to this issue, the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 mandates that the U.S. Department of Agriculture conduct research and education programs on alternative agricultural systems. These must be productive, economically viable, and environmentally sound; they must conserve natural resources, make optional use of on-farm resources, and enhance the quality of life for farmers and ranchers, members of rural communities, and society as a whole. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program has evolved as an important initiative for development and promotion of alternative agricultural practices and production systems. This article describes sustainable agriculture and its role in the development of a philosophy for identification of research, education, and policy initiatives for twenty-first-century U.S. agriculture.