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The sustainable intensification of agriculture

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  • Jules N. Pretty

Abstract

Agricultural development is currently facing unprecedented challenges. With 800 million people already having insufficient access to food, population growth estimates project an even bleaker situation in the future. The article summarizes the major schools of thought regarding how to face the dilemma, and advocates sustainable intensification of agriculture, relying on integrated use of a wide range of technologies to manage pests, nutrients, soil and water. Local knowledge and adaptive methods are stressed rather than comprehensive packages of externally‐supplied technologies. The article shows how regenerative, low‐input agriculture, founded on full farmer participation in all stages of development and extension, can be highly productive. It is stressed that policy must not prescribe specific, concretely defined technologies or practices, as this would restrict future farmer options. Farmers and communities should be allowed and encouraged to adapt to changing conditions; what needs to be sustainable are local processes of innovation and adaptation. The article highlights environmental and economic benefits resulting from sustainable intensification practices, for farmers as well as communities and nations with examples are taken from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Despite the increasing success of sustainable agriculture, it is clear that the challenge remains to ‘scale up’ the process from small ‘islands of success’ to fundamental reform of both policies and policy formulation processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Jules N. Pretty, 1997. "The sustainable intensification of agriculture," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 21(4), pages 247-256, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:21:y:1997:i:4:p:247-256
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1997.tb00699.x
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    1. Jules N Pretty & Michel P Pimbert, 1995. "Beyond conservation ideology and the wilderness," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 19(1), pages 5-14, February.
    2. Knutson, Ronald D. & Taylor, C. Robert & Penson, John B., Jr. & Smith, Edward G., 1990. "Economic Impacts Of Reduced Chemical Use," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 5(4), pages 1-4.
    3. Hazell, Peter B. R., 1995. "Managing agricultural intensification," 2020 vision briefs 11, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Peters, Steven E. & Janke, Rhonda R. & Johnson, Dale M. & Hanson, James C., 1990. "The Profitability Of Sustainable Agriculture On A Representative Grain Farm In The Mid-Atlantic Region, 1981-89," Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 19(2), pages 1-9, October.
    5. Pretty, Jules N., 1995. "Participatory learning for sustainable agriculture," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(8), pages 1247-1263, August.
    6. Atta-Krah, A. N. & Francis, P. A., 1987. "The role of on-farm trails in the evaluation of composite technologies: The case of alley farming in Southern Nigeria," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 133-152.
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