As the world population continues to grow, we need sustainabloe solutions to help prevent starvation and malnutrition in the coming years. It’s predicted that in 2050, the global population will be between 9 and 10 billion people. That’s a lot of people to feed!<\/span><\/p>\n According to an article by IBM, there will be a need for <\/span>70% more food<\/span><\/a> than we’re producing now by 2050 in order to feed everyone. That’s a huge number, and will need big changes in order to become achievable.<\/span><\/p>\n Sustainable agriculture is the production of food by using farming practices that are healthy for people and the environment. These practices include using renewable resources, minimizing waste, and conserving energy.<\/span><\/p>\n The US Department of Agriculture defines sustainable agriculture as “an approach to land management that considers the long-term impact of agricultural practices on the environment and natural resources.”<\/span><\/p>\n For more than 100 years<\/span><\/a>, the United States has been committed to the development of sustainable agriculture.<\/span><\/p>\n In this article, we’ll look at some important news, facts, and statistics about sustainable agriculture in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n The term sustainable agriculture was coined in the 1940s to identify farming methods that could be maintained indefinitely (i.e., ‘sustainable’). Later, sustainable practices were described as those that “maintain ecological balance and conserve biodiversity while producing an abundance of wholesome food”. <\/span><\/p>\n Today, there are <\/span>10 sustainable agriculture methods<\/span><\/a> and practices that are used to help achieve these goals. They are:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Sustainability Alliance<\/a> had reported in <\/span>September 2021<\/span> that the USDA is going to invest 5 billion dollars “to build more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems”. In the same announcement at the United Nations Food System Summit, the USDA also explained the steps that they’ll be taking to promote sustainable productivity growth and their efforts to lessen food waste in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the <\/span>2017 Census of Agriculture<\/span><\/a> released by the US Department of Agriculture, we learn about the trends in sustainable agriculture in recent times. The census involved nearly 3 million farms and ranches across the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thanks to this census, we learn an interesting fact about the demography of our next-generation\u00a0 farmers who have less than 10 years of experience in farming:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n First we learn that in 2017, 27% of all farmers are actually \u201cbeginning\u201d farmers. This number rose by 5% if we compared it to 2012. This means that there\u2019s an increasing number of people who are getting into farming<\/a> and applying sustainable practices in their ways.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There had been a noticeable growth in organic production from 2012 until the Census\u2019 release in 2017. Let\u2019s dive into it:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The USDA reports that the agricultural industry is responsible for up to <\/span>90% of all water usage in the U.S<\/span><\/a>., but through the guidance of sustainable farming practices, farms are able to produce more food using less water – this is key in providing enough food for everyone in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n To combat this issue, there is a need for increased efficiency in water usage in sustainable agriculture. The USDA notes that “Water-saving technologies and practices available today include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As sustainable agriculture is also about being both economically and environmentally conscious, more and more farmers are turning towards renewable energy. In fact, farmers have put in 132% <\/span>more renewable energy sources<\/span><\/a> and technologies in the last five years including solar panels, windmills, and hydro systems.<\/span><\/p>\n They were also able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 71 MMT. To put this into perspective, that’s the equivalent of 17 million cars being taken off the road.<\/span><\/p>\n This just goes to show that when it comes to sustainability, there are many ways for everyone to get involved and make a difference.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re considering a <\/span>career in sustainable agriculture<\/span><\/a>, there are many different degrees that you can take such as sustainable agriculture, food science, environmental engineering and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Check out some of the career paths below:<\/span><\/p>\nTypes of Sustainable Agriculture Methods<\/b><\/h2>\n
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US Department of Agriculture To Invests Billions<\/b><\/h2>\n
Trends in Sustainable Agriculture<\/b><\/h2>\n
Farmer Demographics<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nOrganic and Local Food<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nLess Water Usage Through Sustainable Practices<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Renewable Energy in Sustainable Agriculture<\/b><\/h2>\n
Careers in Sustainable Agriculture<\/b><\/h2>\n
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