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The word sustain {from the Latin sustinere (sus-, from below and tenere, to hold)} means to keep in existence or maintain. It implies long-term support or permanence. As it pertains to agriculture, sustainable refers to the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of diverse food, fiber, agriculture, forest, and range systems; to agricultural systems that are "capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness to society indefinitely. Such systems... must be resource-conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive, and environmentally sound" (John Ikerd). "A sustainable agriculture does not deplete soils or people"—Wendell Berry). "A sustainable agriculture is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane"—International Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture, therefore, "is both a philosophy and a system of farming. It has its roots in a set of values that reflects an awareness of both ecological and social realities. It involves design and management procedures that work with natural processes to conserve all resources and minimize waste and environmental damage, while maintaining or improving farm profitability. Working with natural soil processes is of particular importance. Sustainable agriculture systems are designed to take maximum advantage of existing soil nutrient and water cycles, energy flows, beneficial soil organisms, and natural pest controls. By capitalizing on existing cycles and flows, environmental damage can be avoided or minimized. Such systems also aim to produce food that is nutritious, and uncontaminated with products that might harm human health."—Ecological Agriculture Projects, McDonald College, McGill University.
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