Sustainable Agriculture

 We have an ethical obligation to soil as it is an essential component for our life support. In "Sustainable Agriculture" by Clark Wolf, he explains that we as a community of people living on the earth must gain a complete understanding of the term 'sustainable'. Living sustainably does not necessarily mean living all natural. Clark writes," Sustainable agriculture embodies an ideal of agriculture production that expresses values of environmental responsibility, intergenerational fairness, and the integrity of human communities"(50). By continuing on with the use of unsustainable practices, we are harming future generations. Therefore, we all should have a moral responsibility to the soil or land. It is not just the farmer's or government's job to make a change, it is up to all of "us". We are considered as ONE and it is important that we create a better way of life for all. Wolf states, "if our food is produced unsustainably, if its production involves the exploitation of workers and undermines families and communities, if it is produced in ways that compromise important environmental resources that are needed by future generations, then OUR purchase and consumption of it embodies values we might reject if we understood and reflected on them"(50). What is our justification for unsustainable practices? Do we really have any justification, besides our own self-interest? By living our lives in an unsustainable way, we are depriving the future generations of their basic needs. We must leave a legacy of knowledge, understanding, and reflection. 

“Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.” - Lord Robert Baden Powell

Wolf brought up many relevant points within this article. He focused on agriculture production and why it can be difficult to come up with a solution for unsustainable practices. There are several different viewpoints and thoughts on what it means to actually be 'sustainable'. For example, some may argue “conventional modes of agricultural production are environmentally damaging”(34).  This is a valid argument as science has proven this to be true. However, some may also claim that “conventional farming uses the advantages of technology in the service of efficient production that reduces the environmental impact of agriculture”(37). Originally, I was on the side that stated conventional modes are damaging, but after reading this article my viewpoint has shifted. I can understand all the worldviews of agriculture production. Wolf claims, “it would be a mistake to think that one and only one of these conceptions of sustainability must be the right one, while others are wrong”(40).  It is about combining all the concepts of sustainability and finding a perfect balance, as different situations may call for different methods. We must not be so quick to judge and consider all views! Living in our world today, it is extremely challenging to be fully sustainable, but we have the ability to improve our practices. We can not reverse the clock, but we can learn from our past mistakes. Either way, we must hold ourselves morally accountable for our treatment towards the earth and protect the environment at all costs. Humans need to serve nature now, not later. It is crucial we have an ethical obligation to soil, before it is too late.