SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - HISTORY, CONCEP T AND CONSEQUENCES FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION

The concept of sustainable development or sustainable agriculture has gained widespread attention in international discussions. Based on a l iterature study this paper describes how the concept evolved to an imp ortant model for the development of agricultural systems mainly in the USA. Though, no single definition of sustainable agriculture is avail able, some agreement, based on the evolution of the term in ecology, e conomics and sociology has been reached. Therefore the 6 following asp ects should be incorporated in the concept of sustainable agriculture: a. Intergenerational equity; b. preservation of the resource base of agriculture production and prevention of pollution; c. Protection of b iological diversity, as little interference with natural ecosystems as possible; d. Guarantee of the economic viability of the farm sector a nd enhance job opportunities in farming as well as preserve the struct ure of the rural community; e. Responsibility for the society as a who le to produce sufficent food with high nutritious quality, and f. Taki ng responsibility for a sustainable development in a global scale. The importance of these different aspects of a sustainable agriculture in a number of definitions are given. The concequences of the concept of sustainable agriculture for research, education and extension are dis cussed. Fundamental critic of sustainable agriculture is mainly concer ned with too little emphasis on the productivity aspect and the lack o f how to balance the different aspects of sustainability.