Sustainability- Agriculture's Buzz Word

Sustainability. A word that we are certainly hearing a lot more about. But what is sustainability? I think we can all agree that sustainability in agriculture is important, the challenge lies in determining a definition for this buzz word and taking a proactive approach at showing consumers that farmers and ranchers have always practiced sustainability.

I was privileged to attend the Bayer CropScience Sustainability in Agriculture Executive Course last month, and I came away from that course both excited and challenged. Growing up involved in agriculture I have had the opportunity to see sustainability in action from a very young age. Farmers and ranchers have always practiced sustainability; they work with the land and livestock and do their best to provide safe, delicious and affordable food to consumers while conserving the land and resources. And they do all of this despite many criticisms and increasing regulations. With the population expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050, there's no question that farmers are more sustainable today than they have ever been.

I want to share some of my key takeaways from the Sustainability course. It is my hope that these challenge you and get you thinking about sustainability and how we spread agriculture's sustainability message.

• There isn't a clear definition for sustainability. We, as an industry, need to define sustainability before someone else does. If we don't take a proactive approach to sustainability, someone else will inaccurately define this critical term.
• Growers don't necessarily want to use insecticides, pesticides, etc., because it's an added input cost. They only use these crop protection products when necessary. Consumers need to understand that producers don't overload on crop protection...it's expensive.
• Don't put "sustainability" in a box. It's a strategy, a lifestyle really. We have to understand that sustainability has changed. What were considered sustainable practices for my grandfather's generation might not be the same as the practices my dad and brothers use on our operation today. We have to constantly be thinking of the future and how we can continue to conserve the land and resources.
• Sustainability is a moving target. It has changed over generations and continues to change at a rapid pace. Again, we need to be thinking about future generations.
• Sustainability is the ability to endure. If farmers and ranchers weren't sustainable we would not have the cheapest food source in the entire world. Sustainability is the peace of mind that when we go to the grocery store there will be food to feed our families with.

Although there's not a set definition for sustainability, I think we can all agree that sustainability is doing our best to produce the safest food possible using practices that will ensure the land is available for generations to come. Obviously agriculture has to be sustainable. If farmers and ranchers don't take care of the land, they don't have a job and their families won't have food to eat or clothes to wear. While we know that our industry is sustainable, we cannot assume consumers know that. We need to be flamboyantly transparent. We need to show consumers that we are acting in the best interest of our land and livestock, as well as, in the best interest of consumers and future generations.

"When people say you have a problem, throw open the door and show them you don't." -Temple Grandin