Since World War II ended, agriculture throughout the world transformed significantly. First, due to the massive increases in production and new technologies, labor demands were reduced and fewer farmers where required to provide the food and fiber to the United States. While these advancements were beneficial in many ways, they also led to a number of negative consequences such as a vast reduction in family farms, groundwater contamination, poor working conditions for farm laborers, increases in production costs, and much more. As a result, the last 20 years have focused on sustainable agriculture to help reduce the social, economic, and environmental concerns.

Sustainable agriculture provides new opportunities to growers, consumers, and policymakers to make a true difference in the nation’s food system. In general, sustainable agriculture focuses on the following:

• Economic Profitability
• Environmental Health
• Social and Economic Equity

By focusing on the above three elements, sustainable agriculture will maximize resources in order to lay a solid foundation for the future. By keeping our future generations in mind with each and every agricultural and environmental decision, we are keeping sustainability at the forefront of each initiative. In doing so, the ecosystem will be able to benefit for many years to come.

In recent years, water has become one of the hottest topics in terms of natural resources. Sustainable agriculture accounts for keeping water supply and water quality at optimal levels for farming and consumption. In addition, wildlife plays a significant role in enhancing the ecosystem. From growers to farmers to landscapers to winery owners, maintaining a sense of sustainable agriculture is imperative to the future of our ecosystem. As each agricultural realm comes together in an effort to maximize sustainable, the world will greatly benefit for many years to come.