Crisis and Opportunity: Sustainability in American Agriculture (Our Sustainable Future)

With the decline of family farms and rural communities and the rise of corporate farming and the resulting environmental degradation, American agriculture is in crisis. But this crisis offers the opportunity to rethink agriculture in sustainable terms. Here one of the most eloquent and influential proponents of sustainable agriculture explains what this means. These engaging essays describe what sustainable agriculture is, why it began, and how it can succeed. Together they constitute a clear and compelling vision for rebalancing the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of agriculture to meet the needs of the present without compromising the future. In Crisis and Opportunity, John E. Ikerd outlines the consequences of agricultural industrialization, then details the methods that can restore economic viability, ecological soundness, and social responsibility to our agricultural system and thus ensure sustainable agriculture as the foundation of a sustainable food system and a sustainable society. (20081101) Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1. Crisis and Opportunity in American Agriculture......Page 16 Part One: The Industrialization of American Agriculture......Page 36 2. Why We Should Stop Promoting Industrial Agriculture......Page 38 3. Corporate Agriculture and Family Farms......Page 48 4. The Corporatization of America......Page 60 Part Two: New Hope for the Future of Farming......Page 76 5. Rediscovering Agriculture and New Hope for Farming......Page 78 6. Farming in Harmony with Nature and Society......Page 88 7. Reclaiming the Sacred in Food and Farming......Page 96 Part Three: Principles of Sustainable Agriculture......Page 108 8. Do We Really Need to Define Sustainable Agriculture?......Page 110 9. Foundational Principles of Soils, Stewardship, and Sustainability......Page 118 10. Economics of Sustainable Farming......Page 137 11. The Renaissance of Rural America......Page 155 Part Four: The New American Farmer......Page 172 12. Walking the Talk of Sustainable Agriculture......Page 174 13. Survival Strategies for Small Farms......Page 192 14. Marketing in the Niches for Sustainability......Page 208 15. Local Organic Farms Save Farmland and Communities......Page 222 16. The Triple Bottom Line of Farming in the Future......Page 239 Part Five: Creating Sustainable Food and Farming Systems......Page 256 17. The Real Costs of Globalization......Page 258 18. Redirecting Government Policies for Agricultural Sustainability......Page 275 19. The New American Food System......Page 289 20. American Agriculture After Fossil Energy......Page 308 Notes......Page 328 Crisis And Opportunity Outlines The Consequences Of Agricultural Industrialization, Then Details The Methods That Can Restore Economic Viability, Ecological Soundness, And Social Responsibility To Our Agricultural System And Thus Ensure A Sustainable Agriculture As The Foundation Of A Sustainable Food System And A Sustainable Society.--book Jacket. Crisis And Opportunity In American Agriculture -- Why We Should Stop Promoting Industrial Agriculture -- Corporate Agriculture And Family Farms -- The Corporatization Of America -- Rediscovering Agriculture And New Hope For Farming -- Farming In Harmony With Nature And Society -- Reclaiming The Sacred In Food And Farming -- Do We Really Need To Define Sustainable Agriculture? -- Foundational Principles Of Soils, Stewardship, And Sustainability -- Economics Of Sustainable Farming -- The Renaissance Of Rural America -- Walking The Talk Of Sustainable Agriculture -- Survival Strategies For Small Farms -- Marketing In The Niches For Sustainability -- Local Organic Farms Save Farmland And Communities -- The Triple Bottom Line Of Farming In The Future -- The Real Costs Of Globalization -- Redirecting Government Policies For Agricultural Sustainability -- The New American Food System -- American Agriculture After Fossil Energy. John E. Ikerd. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-325). With the decline of family farms and rural communities and the rise of corporate farming and the resulting environmental degradation, American agriculture is in crisis. But this crisis offers the opportunity to rethink agriculture in sustainable terms. This collection describes what sustainable agriculture is, why it began, and how it can succeed.