What is sustainability in food and agriculture?

What do you think of when you see the word sustainable on a food package? When most people are asked, answers typically are something about pesticide-free, green, less pollution, non-GMO, etc. In fact, there is a lot of confusion about what sustainability is. It is more than just being environmentally friendly.

Think about the word sustain. Webster's defines it as both a noun and a verb. The verb sustain has eight definitions! No wonder there is confusion. Let's define sustain as to "keep up or prolong". In other words, it means into the future, on-going, and perpetual.

Sustainability in food and agriculture is like this. Generally, sustainable agriculture is defined based on three principles: 1. Environment, 2. Social responsibility, and 3. Economics. The environmental component evaluates how a practice or system contributes to pollution, carbon footprint, and overall ecosystem. The practice should not harm the environment so much that the environment will be too damaged to produce in the future. Social responsibility looks at how people are treated in the process. For example, are cocoa farmers growers in Africa receiving a fair price and are their working conditions safe? The third component, economics, identifies if the practice can be profitable. If a business cannot make a profit, they won't make it long term.

Where things get complicated is that these three principles can be in conflict with each other at times. The most financially sustainable practices can also be the least sustainable environmentally and socially. Similarly, a practice that is very environmentally friendly may not be socially or economically sustainable. The best models incorporate all three principles of sustainability.

As you begin to develop your sustainability strategy, ask yourself which of these three principles are most important to your business and its existence in the future? Which principle has the biggest gap? Depending on your role within the food and agriculture supply chain, your answer will vary. Develop a plan that will allow you to have impact the area of greatest need. You may be surprised to find that you already implement sustainable practices. Be sure to play those up- they are great attributes of your business!