EUROPEAN FEATURES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - A CONTRIBUTION TO THEDIALOG

Within the framework of agricultural policy-making, the world-wide dem ands for sustainable development in general are related to the sustain able development of rural areas in particular. According to the defini tions of sustainability, four fundamental aspects are considered: (1) food security; (2) employment and income generation; (3) environmental and natural resource conservation; (4) people's participation and emp owerment. Different priorities may be set in the implementation of the se aspects, expressing different attitudes toward nature, society and the ethical decisions involved. In line with these differences, differ ent strategies for agricultural development are favoured, each with sp ecific consequences for rural development. In this paper, we consider some of the basic features of the above-mentioned problems, focusing o n technical aspects but touching upon some underlying social and ethic al issues as well. We compare basic requirements of sustainable develo pment with some features of recent strategies, such as integrated agri culture (integrated pest management and integrated plant nutrition sys tems) and low external input sustainable agriculture (LEISA). Special attention is given to the principles underlying autonomous ecosystem m anagement (AEM), as applied in organic types of agriculture (OA). By a iming for the multi-purpose efficiency of the agro-ecosystem and its s ubsystems, OA complies with the requirements for a sustainable use of natural resources. Its impact on the environment, nature and landscape meet the requirements of European Community (EC) and national policie s. Its economic performance is remarkably similar to that of comparabl e conventional farms. Yields tend to be somewhat lower than those of h igh external input agriculture (HEIA), but enough to meet the EC's eff orts to diminish overproduction, and OA seems to meet society's need f or sufficient good-quality food. Also, higher labour demands in organi c agriculture, labour diversification and upgrading at the farm, and t he social networks between farmers and consumers make a significant co ntribution to sustainable social development. This presentation of var ious development perspectives can widen the options for choices. Far f rom offering a blueprint or turnkey solution, these considerations are meant as a contribution to a challenging dialogue on agriculture's ro le in sustainable rural development.