A majority of us would agree it is important for future generations to have a safe and healthy world to live in, with plenty of resources available to sustain life. Achieving this image starts with what we, as a society, do today. Sustainable agriculture is just one way people are preparing for a better future, and there’s a way for all of us to get involved.
What is sustainable agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture meets today’s needs with tomorrow in mind. These agriculturalists strive to provide for our current society’s needs without making the future generations compromise to meet their needs.
Essentially, sustainable agriculture has 3 main objectives.
A healthy environment
Economic profitability
Social and economic equity
There are different ways sustainable agriculture is practiced. Typically, growers use methods of production that promote soil health, minimize water use, and lower pollution levels from the farm. Consumers, on the other hand, can look for “value-based” foods while shopping at grocery stores, which promote farmworker well-being, foods that are environmentally friendly, or local foods that help strengthen the local economy.
How can I help with sustainable agriculture?
As a consumer, there are a couple different options to help with sustainable agriculture, some mentioned above. But there is another way that can also help family farmers and the hard-working men and women who help produce the world’s food supply – by investing in sustainable agriculture.
Chris Rawley, CEO of Harvest Returns, sees an underserved middle market for agriculture finance, including financing for farms practicing sustainable agriculture.
“As our friend David Sewell, likes to say, sustainable investments must be economically viable, as well as environmentally and socially responsible. We're excited to partner with David and his team at the Belize Cacao Consortium to offer an investment in a high quality, specialty cacao farming operation. Not only does that investment produce solid returns, it does so in an environmentally friendly manner while supporting the indigenous cacao farmers and their families. Fortunately, the same desire for sustainability in organic crops drives higher consumer demand, more stable prices, and more profitable farming operations.”
Farmers that practice sustainable agriculture need every cutting edge they can get today, on the production side and on the finance side. Increasingly, they’re competing not just with the farm in the next state and county, but with farms all over the world. The agricultural industry, especially producers, must evolve to fit with today’s globalized marketplace with a promise for a better tomorrow.