Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Resources: Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture
Suggested Readings for Students (see Print Resources for annotations and URLs of
selected items)
Native ecosystems/agricultural ecosystems
Crossley, D. A. Jr., G. J. House, R. M. Snider, R. J. Snider, and B. R. Stinner. 1984. The
positive interactions in agroecosystems, In Agricultural Ecosystems, edited by R.
Lowrance, B. R. Stinner, and G.J. House, pp. 73-81. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Evans, Francis C. 1956. Ecosystem as the basic unit in ecology. Science 23: 1127-1128.
Gliessman, S.R. 1997. Chapter 2: The agro-ecosystem concept. In Agroecology:
Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC Press.
Odum, Eugene P. 1952. Fundamentals of Ecology (1st Edition). Philadelphia: W.B.
Saunders Co.
Odum, Eugene P. 1984. Properties of agroecosystems, In Agricultural Ecosystems, edited
by R. Lowrance, B. R. Stinner, and G.J. House, pp. 8-11. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
**Patriquin, David, et al. The ecosystem concept and is application to agricultural
systems. In Agroecosystems. Available online: www.dal.ca/~dp/agroecosystems.html
(modified January 2001; viewed July 9, 2004).
Powers, L. E., and R. McSorley. 2000. Ecological Principles of Agriculture. Albany, NY:
Delmar Thomson Learning.
Defining sustainable agriculture
Allen, Patricia, and Carolyn Sachs. 1991. What do we want to sustain? Developing a
comprehensive vision of sustainable agriculture. Sustainability in the Balance, Issue
Paper No. 2. Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, UC
Santa Cruz.
Crews, Timothy, Charles Mohler and Alison Power. 1991. Energetics and ecosystem
integrity: the defining principles of sustainable agriculture. American Journal of
Alternative Agriculture. 6: 146-149.
Earles, Richard. 2002. Sustainable agriculture: an introduction. Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA
– National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Ikerd, John E. 1993. The need for a system approach to sustainable agriculture.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 46 (1–3): 147–160.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Norman, David, Rhonda Janke, Stan Freyenberger, Bryan Schurle, and Hans Kok.
Defining and implementing sustainable agriculture. Kansas Sustainable Agriculture
Series, Paper #1. Kansas State University Extension.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). 2003. Exploring
sustainability in agriculture. SARE.
United States Department of Agriculture. 1999. Sustainable agriculture: definitions and
terms. Agricultural Research Service, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
(AFSIC).
University of California Research and Education Program (SAREP) 1997. What is
sustainable agriculture? Davis, CA: UC SAREP.
Yunlonga, Cai, and Barry Smitb, 1994. Sustainability in agriculture: a general review.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 49(3): 299–307.
The history of sustainable agriculture
Harwood, R. R. 1990. Chapter 1: History of sustainable agriculture: U.S. and
international perspective. In Sustainable Agricultural Systems, edited by C. A. Edwards,
R. Lal, P. Madden, R. H. Miller, and G. House, pp. 3-19. Ankeny, IA: Soil & Water
Conservation Society.
Forms of sustainable agriculture
Traditional agriculture
Altieri, Miguel A. (ed). 1995. Chapter 6: Traditional agriculture. In Agroecology: The
Science of Sustainable Agriculture. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
King, F. H. 1911. Farmers of Forty Centuries. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.
Thurston, H. David. 1992. Sustainable Practices for Plant Disease Management in
Traditional Farming Systems. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Wilken, Gene C. 1987. Good Farmers: Traditional Agricultural Resource Management
in Mexico and Central America. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Agroecology
Altieri, Miguel. Agroecology: Principles and strategies for designing sustainable farming
systems.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Altieri, Miguel A. (ed.). 1995. Agroecology: The Science of Sustainable Agriculture.
Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Carroll, C. Ronald, John H. Vandermeer, and P. M. Rosset (eds.). 1990. Agroecology.
New York: McGraw Hill.
Gliessman, Stephen R. 1997. Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable
Agriculture. CRC Press.
Gliessman, Stephen R. (ed.). 2000. Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical
Strategies. CRC Press.
Organic agriculture
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2004. Organic
agriculture at FAO. Frequently asked questions on organic agriculture.
Kuepper, George. 2002. Organic certification and the National Organic Program.
Marketing Technical Note. Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture
Information Service.
Kuepper, George. 2002. An overview of organic crop production. Fundamentals of
Sustainable Agriculture. Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture
Information Service.
Lampkin, Nicolas. 1990. Organic Farming. United Kingdom: Farming Press.
Scialabba, Nadia, and Caroline Hattman 2002. Organic Agriculture, Environment and
Food Security. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Taylor, Nancy, and Leslie Zenz (eds.). 1999. Organic Resource Manual. USDA SARE
and Washington State University Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program.
SARE Project: EW – 96.006. Available online:
agr.wa.gov/foodanimal/organic/organicresourcemanual.htm
United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program. 2002. National
Organic Program Fact Sheets: National Organic Program Background Information;
Certifying Agent Accreditation and Equivalency of Imported Products; Organic
Production and Handling Standards; Labeling and Marketing Information; Certification.
Available online: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexNet.htm
USDA National Organic Program. 2002. Production and handling – Preamble. Subpart C
– organic crop, wild crop, livestock and handling requirements.
www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexNet.htm
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Low Input Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Benbrook, Charles M. 1996. Chapter 7: Biointensive IPM and the IPM continuum. In
Pest Management at the Crossroads. Yonkers, New York: Consumers Union.
Cook, Maurice G. 1990. Low Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA): current status and
future outlook. Publication AG-439-7. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.
Available online: www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-07/ (Last Web
Update: December 1997; Viewed July 2004).
Flint, Mary Louise. 1998. Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower’s Guide to
Using Less Pesticide (2nd Edition). Publication #3332. Oakland, CA: University of
California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Eco-Agriculture
Ecoagriculture Partners 2004. What is ‘ecoagriculture’? Ecoagriculture Partners.
Available online: www.ecoagriculturepartners.org/home.htm
McNeely, Jeffrey, and Sara Scherr. 2003. Ecoagriculture: Strategies to Feed the World
and Save Wild Biodiversity. Future Harvest and World Conservation Union. Island Press.
Perennial-based agriculture
Jackson, Wes. 1985. New Roots for Agriculture (2nd Edition). Lincoln, NE: University of
Nebraska Press.
Journal of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2005. Special Issue: Perennial
Grain Crops: An Agricultural Revolution. Volume 20 Number 1, March 2005. Includes
the following three articles:
DeHaan, Lee R., David L. Van Tassel, and T .Stan Cox. Perennial grain crops: A
synthesis of ecology and plant breeding (10 pages).
Cox, Cindy M., K. A. Garrett, and W. W. Bockus. Meeting the challenge of disease
management in perennial grain cropping systems (11 pages).
Crews, Timothy E. Perennial crops and endogenous nutrient supplies (13 pages).
Soule, Judith D., and Jon K. Piper. 1992. Farming in Nature’s Image: An Ecological
Approach to Agriculture. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Smith, J. Russell. 1953. Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture. New York: Devin-Adair
Co.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
Permaculture
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. 2004. Introduction to
permaculture: concepts and resources. Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA – National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service. Available online: www.attra.org/attra-pub/perma.html
Principles and strategies for designing sustainable farming systems
Altieri, Miguel. 2004. Agroecology: principles and strategies for designing sustainable
farming systems.
Altieri, M.A. 1992. Agroecological foundations of alternative agriculture in California.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 39: 23-53.
Gliessman, Stephen R. 1997. Chapter 20: Making the transition to sustainability. In
Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC Press.
Gliessman, Stephen R. (ed.). 2000. Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical
Strategies. CRC Press.
Rosset, Peter A., and Miguel A. Altieri. 1997. Agroecology versus input substitution: a
fundamental contradiction of sustainable agriculture. Society and Natural Resources 10
(3): 283-295.
Shiyomi, Masae. 2001. Structure and Function in Agroecosystem Design and
Management. Advances in Agroecology Series: Volume 6. CRC Press.
Sullivan, Preston. 2003. Applying the principles of sustainable farming.
Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture. Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA – National
Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Ecological indicators of agricultural sustainability
Gliessman, Stephen R. 1997. Chapter 20: Making the transition to sustainability. In
Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC Press.
Gliessman, Stephen R. (ed.). 2000. Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical
Strategies. CRC Press.
Heller, Martin C., and Gregory A. Keoleian. 2000. Life cycle-based sustainability
indicators for assessment of the US food system. Center for Sustainable Systems.
University of Michigan. Report No. CSS00-04. Available online: css.snre.umich.edu/
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Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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The productivity and environmental performance of alternative, certified organic, and
conventional agricultural production systems
Clark, M. S., H. Ferris, K. Klonsky, W. T. Lanini, A. H. C. vanBruggen, and F. G.
Zalom. 1998. Agronomic, economic, and environmental comparison of pest management
in conventional and alternative tomato and corn systems in northern California.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 68: 51-71.
Clark, M. S., W. R. Horwath, C. Shennan, and K. M. Scow. 1998. Changes in soil
chemical properties resulting from organic and low-input farming practices. Agronomy
Journal 90(5): 662–671.
Collins, Wanda W., and Calvin O. Qualset. 1998. Biodiversity in Agroecosystems.
Advances in Agroecology Series: Volume 2. CRC Press.
Crews, T. E., and M. B. Peoples. 2004. Legume versus fertilizer sources of nitrogen:
ecological tradeoffs and human needs. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 102(3):
279-297.
Crosson, P., and J. E. Ostrov 1990. Sorting out the environmental benefits of alternative
agriculture. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 45(1).
Dalgaard, T., N. Halberg, and I. S. Kristensen. 1998. Can organic farming help to reduce
N-losses? Experiences from Denmark. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 52: 277-287.
Drinkwater, L. E., P. Wagoner, and M. Sarrantonio. 1998. Legume-based cropping
systems have reduced carbon and nitrogen losses. Nature 396: 262-265.
Gliessman, Stephen R. 2000. Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical
Strategies. CRC Press.
Huyck, Leisa. 2003. Sustainable agriculture farming systems project: past, present and
future. SASFS Newsletter Vol. 4 no. 1. Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science.
University of California, Davis.
Mader, Paul et al. 2002. Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science 296:
1694-1697.
Pacini, Cesare et al. 2003. Evaluation of sustainability of organic, integrated and
conventional farming systems: a farm and field-scale analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems &
Environment 95(1): 273-288.
Reganold, John, and Preston Andrews. 2001. Sustainability of three apple production
systems. Nature 410: 926-930.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Scialabba, Nadia, and Caroline Hattman (eds.). 2002. Chapter 2: Organic agriculture and
the environment. In Organic Agriculture, Environment and Food Security. Rome: Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Scow, K.M., O. Somasco, N. Gunapala, S. Lau, R. Venette, H. Ferris, R. Miller, and C.
Shennan. 1994. Transition from conventional to low-input agriculture changes soil
fertility and biology. California Agriculture 48(5): 20-26.
Soil Association. 2000. The Biodiversity Benefits of Organic Farming. Soil
Association/WWF - UK. Available online:
www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/9f788a2d1160a9e580256a71002a3d2b/67bff1
084a5b1d0880256ae50039d8cb/$FILE/Biodiversity%20Report.pdf
Stanhill, G. 1990. The comparative productivity of organic agriculture. Agriculture,
Ecosystems & Environment 30: 1-26.
Temple, S. R., O. A. Somascorchard, M. Kirk, and D. Friedman. 1994. Conventional,
low-input and organic farming systems compared. California Agriculture 48(5): 14–19.
Van Brugen, A. H. C. 1995. Plant disease severity in high-input compared to reducedinput and organic farming systems. Plant Diseases 79: 976–984.
Social and economic sustainability
Allen, Patricia, and Carolyn Sachs. 1991. What do we want to sustain? Developing a
comprehensive vision of sustainable agriculture. Sustainability in the Balance, Issue
Paper No. 2. Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, UC
Santa Cruz.
Allen, Patricia. 1994. The human face of sustainable agriculture: adding people to the
environmental agenda. Issue Paper #4. Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Agroecology and
Sustainable Food Systems, UC Santa Cruz.
Allen, Patricia (ed.). 1993. Food for the Future. New York: Wiley and Sons.
Bird, Elizabeth Ann R., Gordon L. Bultena, and John C. Gardner (eds.). 1995. Planting
the Future: Developing an Agriculture that Sustains Land and Community. Ames, IA:
Iowa State University Press.
Clancy, Kate. 1997. Reconnecting farmers and citizens in the food system. In Visions of
American Agriculture, edited by W. Lockeretz. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press.
Douthwaite, Richard. 1996. Short Circuit: Strengthening Local Economies for Security in
an Unstable World. Devon, England: Green Books.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Fisher, Andy. 1997. What is community food security? Urban Ecology. (Available online
from World Hunger Year; see Web Resources.)
Gliessman, Stephen R. 1997. Chapter 21: From sustainable agriculture to sustainable
food systems. In Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC
Press.
Horne, James E., and Maura McDermott. 2001. The Next Green Revolution: Essential
Steps to a Healthy, Sustainable Agriculture. Binghamton, NY: Food Products Press, an
imprint of The Haworth Press.
Ikerd, John. 2000. Sustainable agriculture: a question of social justice. University of
Missouri Columbia. College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Available
online: www.ssu.missouri.edu/faculty/jikerd/papers/StanfordJustice.html
Kloppenburg, Jack, John Hendrickson, and George W. Stevenson. 1996. Coming into the
foodshed. Agriculture and Human Values 13(3): 33-42.
Norberg-Hodge, Helena, Todd Merrifield, and Steven Gorelick. 2000. Bringing the Food
Economy Home: The Social, Ecological and Economic Benefits of Local Food. London:
Zed Books, Ltd.
Norberg-Hodge, Helena, Peter Goering, and John Page. 2001. From the Ground Up:
Rethinking Industrial Agriculture (2nd Edition). London: Zed Books, Ltd.
Norberg-Hodge, Helena, Todd Merrifield, and Steven Gorelick. 2002. Bringing the Food
Economy Home: Local Alternatives to Global Agribusiness. London: Zed Books, Ltd.
Pretty, Jules 2002. Agri-Culture: Reconnecting People, Land and Nature. London: Zed
Books, Earthscan.
Selencourt, Kate. 1997. Local Harvest: Delicious Ways to Save the Planet. Lawrence and
Wishart.
The values implicit in sustainable agriculture
Allen, Patricia, and Carolyn Sachs. 1991. What do we want to sustain? Developing a
comprehensive vision of sustainable agriculture. Sustainability in the Balance, Issue
Paper No. 2. Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, UC
Santa Cruz.
Cogger, C.G. 1995. Environmental ethics: A challenge for western culture. EB 1787.
Washington State University Cooperative Extension.
Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Print Resources
Allen, Patricia, and Carolyn Sachs. 1991. What do we want to sustain? Developing a
comprehensive vision of sustainable agriculture. Sustainability in the Balance, Issue
Paper No. 2. Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, UC
Santa Cruz. Available at www.ucsc.edu/casfs, or from CASFS.
A critique of definitions of sustainable agriculture that are limited only to what happens
on the farm. Challenges its readers to reformulate definitions of sustainable agriculture
to include gender, race, class, and issues in society at large.
Allen, Patricia. 1993. Food for the Future. New York: Wiley and Sons.
Challenges definitions of sustainable agriculture that do not incorporate social issues,
such as justice, gender, ethnicity, or class. If advocates do not heighten their awareness
of the social forces pressing on conventional agriculture, they run the risk of
reproducing the same social problems in alternative agriculture. This book had a
significant impact on academic thinking in the sustainable agriculture movement.
Allen, Patricia. 1994. The human face of sustainable agriculture: adding people to the
environmental agenda. Sustainability in the Balance, Issue Paper #4. Center for
Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. UC Santa Cruz
Examines the social issues that must be addressed in working toward sustainability,
including food and income distribution, labor conditions, concentration of ownership,
and research priorities. Includes examples of programs that focus on solving these
problems.
Altieri, Miguel. Agroecology: principles and strategies for designing sustainable farming
systems. Available online: www.agroeco.org/doc/principles_and_strategies.html
A concise overview of the principles of agroecology applied to the design and
management of agricultural systems.
Altieri, Miguel A. (ed). 1995. Agroecology: The Science of Sustainable Agriculture.
Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Miguel Altieri is one of the pioneers in developing the discipline of agroecology, and
this was the first text to lay out its major premises. Rather than present techniques for
production, this text proposes an agricultural paradigm based on the science of
ecology.
Altieri, M.A., and P.M. Rosset. 1995. Agroecology and the conversion of large-scale
conventional systems to sustainable management. International Journal of
Environmental Studies 50: 165-185.
Benbrook, Charles M. 1996. Chapter 7: Biointensive IPM and the IPM continuum. In
Pest Management at the Crossroads. Yonkers, NY: Consumers Union.
The clearest summary of environmental, health, policy, and economic issues
surrounding pest management in the U.S. Its chapters introduce IPM, with an emphasis
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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on biointensive IPM, review of pesticide use and risk, and discussion of economic and
policy obstacles to the adoption of IPM.
Bird, Elizabeth Ann R., Gordon L. Bultena, and John C. Gardner (eds.) 1995. Planting
the Future: Developing an Agriculture that Sustains Land and Community. Ames, IA:
Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
Clancy, Kate. 1997. Reconnecting farmers and citizens in the food system. In Visions of
American Agriculture, edited by W. Lockeretz. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press.
Discusses the major factors that have weakened the links between farmers and the rest
of the U.S. population. Clancy then provides criteria that must be met for a more
integrated food system, including a more agriculturally literate society, local food
security, and supportive institutions and policies. An ideal chapter for a beginning
discussion of what needs to happen off the farm to promote social sustainability.
Douthwaite, Richard. 1996. Short Circuit: Strengthening Local Economies for Security in
an Unstable World. Devon, England: Green Books.
Chronicles the many efforts by regular people to recapture their economies and their
resources from sprawling, globalized systems.. Available online in its entirety at
www.feasta.org/documents/shortcircuit/index.htm
Earles, Richard. 2002. Sustainable agriculture: an introduction. Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA
– National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Available online:
www.attra.org/fundamental.html
This summary publication discusses the concept of sustainability and its application to
farming, offering suggestions for improving sustainability in various aspects of
farming, and suggesting ATTRA publications that correlate with these suggestions.
Print resources and Web sites that offer further information are also listed in this 4page document.
Edwards, C. A., R. Lal., P. Madden. R. H. Miller, and G. House. 1990. Sustainable
Agriculutre. Ankeney, IA: Soil and Water Conservation Sociey.
Francis, C. A., C. Butler-Flora, and L. D. King (eds.). 1990. Sustainable Agriculture in
Temperate Zones. New York: Wiley and Sons.
Provides a thorough examination of approaches to sustainability in the temperate
agricultural systems.
Gliessman, Stephen R. 1997. Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable
Agriculture. CRC Press.
An introductory textbook on agricultural ecology.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Gliessman, Stephen R. (ed.). 2000. Agroecosystem Sustainability: Developing Practical
Strategies. CRC Press.
Agroecologists share their experiences in the analysis and development of indicators of
agricultural sustainability. Presents the results of studies that determine if a particular
agricultural practice, input, or management decision is sustainable. Provides a clear
definition of the ecological foundation of agroecosystem sustainability and covers
practical ways of improving or increasing agroecosystem sustainability. Includes
unique, valuable methods for assessing sustainability and integrates the social and
ecological parameters of sustainability.
Horne, James E., and Maura McDermott. 2001. The Next Green Revolution: Essential
Steps to a Healthy, Sustainable Agriculture. Binghamton, NY: Food Products Press, an
imprint of The Haworth Press.
A readable and practical overview of what sustainable agriculture is, how it is practiced
and why this style of farming can preserve the viability of small farms. Chapters cover:
major problems of contemporary industrial agriculture; historical roots of sustainable
agriculture; definitions of sustainable agriculture; politics of sustainable agriculture;
ways of demonstrating sustainable agriculture practices; changes needed to encourage a
sustainable agriculture and food system; and eight steps to a sustainable agriculture.
Howard, Sir Albert. 1947. The Soil and Health. New York: Schocken Books.
This is an early classic in the organic agriculture movement, presenting many of the
underlying ecological and philosophical principles of sustainable agriculture still
relevant today.
Huyck, Leisa. 2003. Sustainable agriculture farming systems project: past, present and
future. SASFS Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 1. Department of Agronomy and Range Science.
University of California, Davis. Available online: safs.ucdavis.edu/index.htm
Research summary of Conventional, Low-Input, and Organic Farming Systems in
California’s Sacramento Valley
Jackson, Wes. 1985. New Roots for Agriculture (Second Edition). Lincoln, NE:
University of Nebraska Press.
A thoroughly documented criticism of the assumptions and the effects of industrial
agriculture as well as possible solutions.
Jeavons, John. 2002. How to Grow More Vegetables (6th Edition). Berkeley, CA: Ten
Speed Press.
An overview of the “Bio-intensive” methods of food production.
The Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
A professional journal devoted specifically to the field of sustainable agriculture, edited
by Raymond P. Poincelot. Articles focus on a variety of topics, including research on
innovative practices and new technologies; IPM; organic farming; energy use;
economic, social, and philosophical aspects of sustainable agriculture.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Kimbrell, Andrew (ed.). 2002. Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture.
Washington, DC: Island Press.
A coffee table-sized book with many short essays and photographs describing the
environmental and social consequences of our modern agricultural system. Provides a
very thorough identification of the range of consequences from this system. A more
affordable version without photos includes all the essays and would be an appropriate
reader for undergraduates.
Kloppenburg, Jack, John Hendrickson, and George W. Stevenson. 1996. Coming into the
foodshed. Agriculture and Human Values 13(3): 33-42.
Explores the conceptual and practical opportunities of organizing agricultural
production around “foodsheds.” Just as bioregionalists propose watersheds as an
organizing framework for activism, so agricultural activists are working for local
economies of food. Students often respond with enthusiasm to the imagery this article
proposes.
McNeely, Jeffrey, and Sara Scherr. 2003. Ecoagriculture: Strategies to Feed the World
and Save Wild Biodiversity. Future Harvest and World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Washington, DC: Island Press.
A summary of the work of both McNeely and Scherr on biodiversity conservation in
agriculture. An excellent overview of the biodiversity impact of agricultural
development and the potential of agriculture to serve a biodiversity conservation
function while assuring livelihood needs and food security. Includes extensive case
studies.
Mollison, Bill. 1997. Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual. Tagari Publications.
Introduces the principles and practices of Permaculture.
National Research Council. 1989. Alternative Agriculture. Washington, DC: National
Academy Press.
The highest-ranking report up to that time to legitimize alternatives to the high-input,
high-chemical-use model.
Norberg-Hodge, Helena, Peter Goering, and John Page. 2001. From the Ground Up:
Rethinking Industrial Agriculture (2nd Edition). London: Zed Books, Ltd. Available
from: www.isec.org.uk
An analysis of the roots of the environmental, social, and economic crises facing
modern industrial agriculture, and a review of more sustainable options.
Norberg-Hodge, Helena, Todd Merrifield, and Steven Gorelick. 2000. Bringing the Food
Economy Home: The Social, Ecological and Economic Benefits of Local Food. London:
Zed Books, Ltd. Available from: www.isec.org.uk
An ISEC report showing that the globalization of food is not only undermining farmers
and damaging the environment, but also posing a real threat to human health, food
security, local economies, and, ultimately, consumers.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Norberg-Hodge, Helena, Todd Merrifield, and Steven Gorelick. 2002. Bringing the Food
Economy Home: Local Alternatives to Global Agribusiness. London: Zed Books, Ltd.
Available from: www.isec.org.uk
Based on the ISEC report, this book includes some new and updated information, a
resource guide, and an index.
Powers, L. E., and R. McSorley. 2000. Ecological Principles of Agriculture. Albany, NY:
Delmar Thomson Learning.
This text is valuable as a general overview of ecological principles, especially as they
relate to agricultural design, management, and problem solving. Emphasizes
sustainable agriculture with respect to many different types of farming practices,
encompassing agroecology in developing as well as industrialized nations
Pretty, Jules 2002. Agri-Culture: Reconnecting People, Land and Nature. Earthscan.
Agri-Culture envisions the expansion of a new form of food production and
consumption founded on more ecological principles and in harmony with the cultures,
knowledge, and collective capacities of the producers themselves. It draws on many
stories of successful agricultural transformation in developing and industrialized
countries, but with a warning that true prosperity will depend on the radical reform of
the institutions and policies that control global food futures, and fundamental changes
in the way we think. The time has come for the next agricultural revolution.
Reganold, John, and Preston Andrews. 2001. Sustainability of three apple production
systems. Nature 410: 926-930.
Summary of Washington State University - Pullman scientists side-by-side replicated
comparison of three orchard systems—conventional, integrated, and organic—at a site
in the Yakima Valley, started in 1994. The study includes an analysis of horticultural,
soil, economic, environmental, and energy trends.
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems journal (formerly The American Journal of
Alternative Agriculture)
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems is a scientific forum for disseminating
technical, economic, and social research findings about the character and requirements
of alternative/sustainable agricultural systems. Both print and internet versions
available. See: www.cabi-publishing.org/Journals.asp?SubjectArea=&PID=21 for
subscription information.
Rosset, Peter A., and Miguel A. Altieri. 1997. Agroecology versus input substitution: a
fundamental contradiction of sustainable agriculture. Society and Natural Resources 10
(3): 283-295.
Critiques efforts to make conventional agriculture more sustainable, claiming that only
a fully integrated agroecological farming system is truly sustainable.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Scialabba, Nadia El-Hage and Caroline Hattam 2002. Organic Agriculture, Environment
and Food Security. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
An overview of the role of organic agriculture in international development. Outlines
the potential for organic agriculture and similar production systems to provide for
livelihood needs, food security and environmental protection. Includes basic
definitions, environmental impact of organic farming, assessments of international
markets for organic agriculture and multiple case studies of organic agriculture projects
around the world. Available online:
www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4137E/Y4137E00.htm
Scow, K.M., O. Somasco, N. Gunapala, S. Lau, R. Venette, H. Ferris, R. Miller, and C.
Shennan. 1994. Transition from conventional to low-input agriculture changes soil
fertility and biology. California Agriculture 48(5): 20–26.
Summarizes a study measuring and comparing soil fertility and biological parameters
in four farming systems at the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS)
project at UC Davis.
Selencourt, Kate. 1997. Local Harvest: Delicious Ways to Save the Planet. Lawrence and
Wishart.
Outlines the array of benefits that responsible food production and marketing can
bring. It also shows that good food costs less when it’s local.
Soule, Judith D., and Jon K. Piper. 1992. Farming in Nature’s Image: An Ecological
Approach to Agriculture. Island Press.
Written by two ecologists from The Land Institute who describe the project’s research
philosophy and work.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). 2003. Exploring sustainability
in agriculture. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. Available online:
www.sare.org/publications/exploring.htm
Defines sustainable agriculture by providing snapshots of different producers who
apply sustainable principles on their farms and ranches. Ten farmers and ranchers from
Montana to New Jersey describe how their farming systems evolved to meet their
financial, ecological and quality of life goals. Created by the Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE) program, the 16-page pamphlet includes a colorful
annotated illustration of practices used on a model sustainable farm and a list of hints
to help consumers make ecologically friendly choices when they buy food.
Swezey, Sean L., and Janet C. Broome. 2000. Growth predicted in biologically integrated
and organic farming. California Agriculture 54(4): 26-36.
Describes the growing interest in promoting biologically integrated farming systems in
California, a “third way” farming system that draws from knowledge gained by organic
systems, reducing yet not fully abandoning agrochemical usage. A provocative
companion to Rosset and Altieri, 1997 (see above).
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Vandermeer, J. 1995. The ecological basis of alternative agriculture. Annual Review of
Ecological Systems 26: 201-224.
Curricula
Miles, A., and M. Brown (eds.) 2003. Unit 3.4: Sustainable agriculture and sustainable
food systems. In Teaching Organic Gardening and Farming Resources for Instructors.
Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, UC Santa Cruz.
Available online: zzyx.ucsc.edu/casfs/training/manual/contents.html
Includes lecture notes for introductory discussions on the development of alternative
agriculture movements in the U.S. Major social influences, authors, and definitions of
sustainable agriculture are addressed. Citations for reference works on the sub-topics
addressed are included.
Web Resources
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
www.sciencedirect.com
The free online Journal of Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment. An excellent
resource for peer-reviewed journal articles on the environmental science of agricultural
land use practices and technologies. Fully searchable.
Agroecology
www.agroecology.org/
The Agroecology website, developed by Stephen R. Gliessman and associates of the
Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, is designed to provide
informational resource for developing sustainable agroecosystems. The site emphasizes
international training, research, and application of agroecological science to solving
real world problems. Contains excellent introductory information on the principles and
practices of agroecology and sustainable food systems. Contains links to agroecology
projects and programs around the world.
Agroecology in Action
www.agroeco.org/
Miguel Altieri's website has several useful summary essays about agroecology and
agroecological principles as they apply to traditional agroecosystems and modern
production agriculture. The section titled “Agroecology and Modern Agriculture” has
the essays most relevant to introducing sustainable agriculture (see: Agroecology:
principles and strategies for designing sustainable farming systems; Modern
agriculture: ecological impacts and the possibilities for truly sustainable farming).
Articles in both Spanish and English.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/ofp/
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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AFSIC specializes in locating and accessing information related to alternative cropping
systems, including sustainable, organic, low-input, biodynamic, and regenerative
agriculture. AFSIC also focuses on alternative crops, new uses for traditional crops,
and crops grown for industrial production. The Center is supported, in part, by USDA’s
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, and a cooperative agreement
with the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
Appropriate Technology Transfer to Rural Areas (ATTRA) –
The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
www.attra.ncat.org/
An outstanding and comprehensive resource providing information on all aspects of
sustainable agriculture, including: agronomy and soil science; pest management;
organic farming; livestock production; marketing; k-12 educational resources; calendar
of events; funding opportunities, and much more.
California Agriculture
californiaagriculture.ucop.edu/
Online journal of peer-reviewed research and news from the Division of Agriculture
and Natural Resources of the University of California. Addresses current events in
agriculture science.
California Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
www.calsawg.org
A coalition of California organizations working for sustainable agriculture in the state.
Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)
www.ucsc.edu/casfs
The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems is a research, education, and
public service program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, dedicated to
increasing ecological sustainability and social justice in the food and agriculture
system.
Community Food Security Coalition
www.foodsecurity.org/
A domestic anti-hunger and sustainable agriculture organization dedicated to the
mission of “…building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure
access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all
times.”
Curriculum Materials Services
www-cms.ag.ohio-state.edu/home.html
Affiliated with Ohio State University, this for-profit entity provides instructional
educational material for teaching all aspects of agriculture. Materials include: student
manuals, teacher guides, kits, CDs, videos, and slide sets. In addition to developing and
producing many of its items, Curriculum Materials Services also reviews and sells
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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items from outside vendors. These vendors are other agricultural education
instructional materials services, state extension services, commercial sources, or trade
associations.
Ecoagriculture Partners
www.ecoagriculturepartners.org/home.htm
International Society for Ecology and Culture:
www.isec.org.uk/
The International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) is a non-profit organization
concerned with the protection of both biological and cultural diversity. ISEC has
developed and maintains many programs that focus on the promotion of local
production and consumption of products as a means through which economic and
cultural self-determination are maintained.
International Federation of Sustainable Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
www.ifoam.org/
An international non-profit organization promoting the worldwide adoption of
ecologically, socially, and economically sound agricultural systems that are based on
the principles of organic agriculture. IFOAM produces information about organic
agriculture, encourages the exchange of knowledge via international conferences,
trade-fairs, and publications; represents the organic movement at international policy
making forums; works to establish, maintain, and regularly revise the international ”
IFOAM Basic Standards” for organic production, as well as the IFOAM Accreditation
Criteria for Certifying Programs.
Long Term Research on Agricultural Systems project (LTRAS)
ltras.ucdavis.edu/
Since 1993 LTRAS has been evaluating the sustainability and environmental impact of
conventional and alternative agriculture production systems. The LTRAS site hosts a
100-year main experiment and various shorter-term experiments, all focused on
improving the sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
www.sustainableagriculture.net/index.htm
The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture is an umbrella organization for
many local groups working for more sustainable agricultural policies in the U.S.
National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), and the Sustainable
Agriculture Network (SAN)
www.sare.org/
SAN is part of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service;
it funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.
Produces publications an all topics relating to the agronomy and economics of
sustainable farming systems.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Organic Agriculture at FAO
www.fao.org/organicag/default.htm
The organic agriculture program of the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization. Established to promote food security and environmental conservation
through the promotion of organic agriculture in both developing and developed
nations. The website contains publications on the role of organic and sustainable
agriculture in international development; a calendar of international events and
meetings; a database containing quantitative and qualitative profiles of the organic food
and fiber industries of member nations.
Rural Advancement Foundation International: Just Food Program
www.rafiusa.org/programs/JUSTFOOD.html
The Just Food Program of RAFI-USA promotes a systems approach to achieving a
more sustainable food and fiber supply by promoting programs and providing literature
on agricultural strategies that support fairness, justice, and equity-based means of
producing food and fiber.
Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) University of California, Davis
safs.ucdavis.edu/index.htm
An interdisciplinary long-term experiment of the Department of Agronomy and Range
Science at UC Davis designed to compare the agronomy, environmental science, and
economics of conventional, low-input/alternative, and certified organic production
practices. The site contains links to research abstracts from SAFS projects, the
quarterly SAFS Newsletter, and links to other sustainable agriculture resources.
Union of Concerned Scientists
www.ucsusa.org/
The Union of Concerned Scientists runs a “Food and Environment” Campaign, whose
goal is: To create a food system that encourages innovative and environmentally
sustainable ways to produce high-quality, safe, and affordable food, while ensuring that
citizens have a voice in how their food is grown.
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS)
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/
AFSIC is one of several topic-oriented Information Centers at the National Agricultural
Library (NAL). NAL is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the USDA. AFSIC specializes in locating and
accessing information related to alternative cropping systems including sustainable,
organic, low-input, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture. AFSIC also focuses on
alternative crops, new uses for traditional crops, and crops grown for industrial
production. See Sustainable Agriculture: Definitions and Terms for a comprehensive
outline of the social, economic, and agroecological topics in the discourse on
agricultural sustainability. Contains extensive literature reviews and video recordings
that may be used in teaching about sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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USDA National Organic Program (NOP)
www.ams.usda.gov/nop/
The official website of the USDA NOP.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/index.asp
Contains much useful introductory information on Agricultural Ecosystems and
Agricultural Ecology.
University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
(SAREP)
www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm#Top
Provides a concise overview of the key themes in sustainable agriculture, especially as
they relate to California. Presents information on natural resources, production
practices, and the social and economic context of sustainability issues.
World Hunger Year (WHY)/Food Security Learning Center:
www.worldhungeryear.org/fslc/
The Food Security Learning Center brings together information on community food
security, domestic hunger and poverty, federal food programs, rural poverty, the family
farm crisis, and issues facing migrant farm workers. A project of World Hunger Year,
the Food Security Learning Center provides extensive resources and articles addressing
the common food system problems facing communities today and the innovative
projects and policy initiatives designed to address them. Has excellent short articles
introducing such ideas as: Local and Regional Food Systems; Community Market and
Youth Gardens; Farmer’s Markets; Farm to Cafeteria Programs; Food Policy Councils.
Video Resources
The Living Land. 1998. Foundation for Global Community. 27 minutes.
A thoughtful set of interviews with John Jeavons, Wes Jackson, Alice Waters, and Mas
Masumoto on the values and practices of alternative agriculture. Available at:
www.globalcommunity.org/cgvideo/land.htm
My Father’s Garden. 1995. Miranda Productions Inc.; producer, Abigail Wright; director,
Miranda Smith; writer, Nathaniel Kahn. Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, Inc. 58 minutes.
Weaves together the personal stories of the loss of family farms, the role of chemical
pesticides in changing the structure of American agriculture, and Fred Kirschmann's
efforts to make his farm ecologically and economically sustainable.
Sustainable Agriculture. Available from San Luis Publishing Co. Los Osos CA:
www.horticulturevideos.com
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Introduces the concept of sustainability in agriculture. Available in DVD and VHS,
Sustainable Agriculture covers soil fertility, nutrient cycling, maintaining biological
diversity, cover cropping, mulch, reducing soil erosion, and more.
Sustainable Agriculture. 1991. Videocassette, Jim Harrigan and San Luis Video
Publishing (San Luis Obispo, CA, c1991). NAL Call #: Videocassette no. 2059. 23
minutes. Available from San Luis Publishing Co. Los Osos CA:
www.horticulturevideos.com
Discusses alternative crops, tillage styles and systems, pest management, and soil
fertility in terms of improving farms while preserving the environment. Visits several
farms managed as sustainable operations.
Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems Project (Video).
The video includes a general overview of the project, the experimental design, the
participatory research process and project results. The principal investigators on the
project are featured, discussing their areas of study and the emerging results from their
research. Through concise video, SAFS findings are made available in a format ideal
for those interested in recent advances in sustainable agriculture production. To order
the SAFS VIDEO, please write: Agricultural Information & Publications.
Communication Services. University of California. Davis, CA 95616-8511
Sustainable Agriculture Perspectives From Across America: Introduction to Concepts
and Principles. 1997. Victor Van Rees, Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education,
and University of Nebraska Extension Service. Distributed by University of Nebraska
Extension Service, Lincoln, NE. NAL Call #: Videocassette no. 2674. 24 minutes.
Discusses sustainable practices that can help a farmer work with the environment as
well as reduce farm operating costs. These include conservation tillage, buffer strips,
composting manure, and integrated pest management.
Sustainable Agriculture: The North Ortago Sustainable Land Management Project.
Available from: www.chiptaylor.com/index.htm
The North Ortago is a region on the southeast coast of New Zealand. The program
objectively assesses the environmental impact of agricultural practices and provides
proof of compliance, steps that would be prohibitively expensive for many individual
farmers. Issues addressed include soil erosion, animal health, chemical herbicides and
insecticides, and organic product certification.
PowerPoint Resources
Agricultural Sustainability, by Laura Mendes, Santa Rosa Junior College. See The
California Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA) Sustainable Agriculture
PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see “Course Curriculum”).
Introduces principles of agricultural sustainability and addresses the need for
sustainable food and agricultural systems by providing an overview of environmental
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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quality and human health issues resulting from the use of conventional agriculture
chemicals and land use practices.
An Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems, by Albie Miles, Center for Agroecology
and Sustainable Food Systems, UC Santa Cruz. See The California Agriculture Teacher’s
Association (CATA) Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com
(see “Course Curriculum”).
Covers the history of the development of US agriculture, resultant social and
environmental consequences and the ways through which agriculturists and sustainable
agriculture advocates are attempting to direct agricultural development toward greater
social and environmental sustainability.
Introduction to Organic Farming, by James A. Riddle, Endowed Chair in Agricultural
Systems, University of Minnesota. See The California Agriculture Teacher’s Association
(CATA) Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see
“Course Curriculum”).
Provides and overview of certified organic agriculture and the standards governing
organic production.
Marketing Principles and Practices for Sustainable Agriculture, by Deborah Walton. See
The California Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA) Sustainable Agriculture
PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see “Course Curriculum”).
Covers the issue of economic sustainability in agriculture covering trends in small farm
viability and the innovative ways through which agriculturalists may develop
alternative markets to maintain economic viability.
National Organic Program Regulations, by Brian McElroy, California Certified Organic
Farmers (CCOF). See The California Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA)
Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see “Course
Curriculum”).
Overview of the NOP regulations, standards and organic certification.
Organic Certification, by Jake Lewin, CCOF. See The California Agriculture Teacher’s
Association (CATA) Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com
(see “Course Curriculum”).
Overview of the NOP regulations, standards and organic certification.
Organic Viticulture: An Overview of Main Principles and Practices, by Ann Thrupp,
PhD, Manager of Organic Development, Fetzer Vineyards. See The California
Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA) Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint
Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see “Course Curriculum”).
An overview of certified organic management practices for California vineyards.
True Rewards: Conservation Benefits and The National Organic Program’s Final Rule,
by James A. Riddle, Endowed Chair, University of Minnesota. See The California
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture – Resources
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Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA) Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint
Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see “Course Curriculum”).
Addresses in detail the conservation standards written into the NOP rules.
What’s Wild in the Rule? By Jim Riddle, by Organic Independents, Chair, National
Organic Standards Board. See The California Agriculture Teacher’s Association (CATA)
Sustainable Agriculture PowerPoint Resources: www.ccagcans.com (see “Course
Curriculum”).
Discusses the biodiversity and environmental quality conservation standards of the
NOP.