June 17th, 2015

Sustainable agriculture needs to meet today’s needs in tandem with the needs of tomorrow’s population. Meeting the present need does not appear to be a current issue—at least not on its own under established practices. The Canada of tomorrow will need to feed a larger population, which will require farmland that remains in good condition.

So what is sustainable agriculture? Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada describes sustainable agriculture as such:

“Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations. It is about improving the standard of living by protecting human health, conserving the environment, using resources efficiently and advancing long-term economic competitiveness. Integrating environmental, economic and social priorities into policies and programs supports action at all levels – citizens, industry, and governments.”

Today’s practices need to maintain or improve the quality of Canada’s current farmlands to feed tomorrow’s children. This is the key to achieving the next goal, which is to improve the quality of life for those consuming the produce, as well as those who create the produce. All people need to consume healthy and natural food in order to live a long and prosperous life. It’s frequently said that you have nothing without your health, and that adage should guide our decisions as consumers.

Why Sustainable Agriculture is Important

The Earth’s population grows steadily. In fact, the world’s population has nearly tripled in the last 70 years! Agriculture needs to sustain this population over a long period of time. The population will not disappear again, so Canada needs become a world leader in the production of foods and fibers that can be shared across the globe.

Immigration continues to boost Canada’s population, which is a trend that is likely to remain constant in the coming years. Certain areas of the globe currently have population densities far beyond what Canadians consider as normal. These areas of the globe suffer at the hands of climate change just as much as any other region. These growing populations will flock to other countries once their agricultural systems can no longer sustain them, and Canada will need to be prepared for this influx of people.

Canada will become an environmental bastion for fresh water and farmable land in the next century. The Great Lakes region provides the key to Canada’s agricultural success, both domestically and abroad. Canada’s farmers will need to meet this challenge, and they’ll need support in order to do so.

How to Get There

Farmers need to make the most of renewable resources and use non-renewable resources sparingly. This includes refraining from polluting the air or leaving the land in worse condition than it was found.

Achieving a sustainable agricultural strategy also means implementing a system that is both commercially competitive and socially supportive. Agriculture should employ a number of people by virtue of its role in Canada’s future, and its success will hinge upon farmers’ collective ability to sell their produce beyond their immediate locales.

This means that farmers cannot be marginalized economically or socially. Farmers really do feed cities; therefore, cities must sustain farmers in turn. Do you have a plan for sustainable agriculture or a need for agricultural funding? Contact INAC Services today to take a step toward that funding!