Energy and Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

<p>Agriculture lies at the heart of civilization. Cultures that mistreat their soils do not long endure. Modern agriculture seems in many ways to be the pinnacle of human achievement, enabling fewer farmers to feed more of humanity than ever before. Yet much of the practice is unsustainable. This paper will examine one aspect of that unsustainability, the interactions of energy with agriculture. It will explore some of the challenges farmers face from energy issues, especially in a carbon-constrained world, and describe how the principles of Natural Capitalism can help farmers take a leadership role in making their operations and their communities more sustainable.</p>