11 Facts About Sustainable Agriculture

Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of millions of young people making positive change, online and off! The 11 facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. After you learn something, Do Something! Find out how to take action here.

1. 40% of today’s global population works in agriculture, making it the single largest employer in the world.^[CGIAR. "Agriculture and Rural Development Day 2012: Lessons in Sustainable Landscapes and Livelihoods.” 2012. Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
2. Sustainable agriculture is the rejection of the industrial approach to food production (aka factory farms). It integrates three main things: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.^[National Geographic Society. "Sustainable Agriculture." Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
3. The ecological and social price of factory farms is: erosion, deforestation, depleted and contaminated soil and water resources, loss of biodiversity, labor abuses, and the decline of family farms.^[National Geographic Society. "Sustainable Agriculture." Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
4. The concept of sustainable agriculture embraces a wide range of techniques, including organic, free-range, low-input, holistic, and biodynamic.^[National Geographic Society. "Sustainable Agriculture." Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
5. With this type of farming, chemical pesticides or fertilizers aren’t necessary, crop diversity is encouraged, and precipitation provides irrigation water.^[National Geographic Society. "Sustainable Agriculture." Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
6. Organic farming typically requires 2.5 times more labor than conventional farming, but it yields 10 times the profit.^[The Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College. "Sustainable Agriculture." Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
7. Organic food products saw a 7.7% growth rate in 2010, compared to 2009. Organic food accounts for nearly 4% of all food products sold in the U.S.^[Center for Sustainable Systems at University of Michigan. “U.S. Food System Factsheet.” 2014. Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
8. In contrast, 88% of corn and 94% of soybeans were genetically modified in 2011. This number was less than 20% in 1996.^[Center for Sustainable Systems at University of Michigan. “U.S. Food System Factsheet.” 2014. Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
9. “Healthy” soil is an important component of sustainability. Methods to enhance and protect the productivity of the soil include using cover crops, compost/manures, avoiding traffic on wet soils, and maintaining soil cover with plants/mulches.^[National Geographic Society. "Sustainable Agriculture." Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
10. The goal of sustainable farmers is to develop efficient, biological systems that don’t need high levels of material inputs (aka harmful chemicals).^[Agricultural Sustainability Institute at UC Davis. "What is Sustainable Agriculture?" Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]
11. There are 4 key sustainability goals: Satisfy human food needs, and contribute to biofuel needs. Enhance environmental quality. Sustain the economic viability of agriculture. Enhance the quality of life for farmers, farm workers and society as a whole.^[Agricultural Sustainability Institute at UC Davis. "What is Sustainable Agriculture?" Web Accessed May 2, 2015.]