Sustainability in AgricultureRonald E. Hester, Roy M. Harrison World trade in agriculture, with its massive subsidies, restrictive barriers, international collaboration and competition, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide at stake, is an emotive subject that often provokes heated debate. So how can sustainability in agriculture be addressed whilst taking these issues into account? Sustainability in Agriculture presents an authoritative and balanced overview of many of the key factors that impact upon world agricultural practices. The aim is to throw light on the subject and so generate informed and rational discussion of the topics which so often generate powerful emotions. Fully referenced, and with sources of further reading given, the contributions from experts from around the globe cover: *Free trade *Fair and unfair trade *GM crops *The use of pesticides *Change in land use and sustainable development *Economic consequences of recent changes in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union A balanced analysis of risks and benefits is also provided, taking into account the economic and social impacts as well as the science of the novel practices discussed. The timeliness of this book, discussing as it does many hotly debated issues, make it essential reading for all those having an interest in the future of agriculture worldwide, but especially farmers and students of farming, environmental scientists, government agencies and policy makers. Cover image courtesy of Professor Jules Pretty. |
Contents
The Wider Policy Context for Agricultural Sustainability | 7 |
References | 13 |
Ecological Hazards and Todays Transgenic Crops | 23 |
10 | 29 |
26 | 42 |
Contents ix | 48 |
A Challenge | 58 |
Introduction | 66 |
Acknowledgement | 79 |
Impacts of Unfair Trade on Developing | 90 |
Possible Risks and Benefits of Pestresistant | 93 |
ReConnecting the Global and | 98 |
Moral and Physical Hazards | 103 |
The Environmental Hazards of Free Trade | 117 |
References | 122 |
Case Studies of Changes to More | 71 |
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Common terms and phrases
A.N.E. Birch activity adverse Assessing Environmental Impacts benefits biodiversity Biotechnology Birch and R.E. Bt cotton Bt crops Bt maize Bt proteins Bt toxin Cancún commodities Common Agricultural Policy Consequences of Decoupled consumers costs DEFRA developed country agriculture ecological risk economic effects environment environmental policy example export exposure farm free trade functional gene genetic global globalisation Globalising Vulnerability GM crops GM Pest-resistant Crops hectare human Ian Dickie impacts of unfair important increased inputs insecticidal international trade labour land management less developed countries Malawi microbial Microbiol million Mozambique non-target Oxfam parasitoids pest pesticide political Political ecology populations potential production R.E. Wheatley reduce risk assessment risk management rural livelihoods sector small-scale farmer social Soil Biol South Africa species Stotzky studies subsidies sugar industry sugar producers tariffs technologies tion tonnes Total Trade on Developing transgenic crops transgenic plants trophic level unfair trade