Defenders of sustainable agriculture, like Brathwaite of Inter-American Institute for Cooperation and Agriculture , (IICA) who wish to see sustainable practices implemented at the local and global level, stress that agriculture must reclaim its rightful place in modern society, as “the bedrock of society and the cornerstone of all economies”.
In order for our food system to be healthy, sustainable and economically viable public policies, local governments, and consumers must emphasize support for local sources of food production and processing; moreover it must encourage and support environmental responsibility, and provide economic stability all within the context of a local or regional area. We must reverse the urban-rural drift and emphasize the importance of stability of farm families, food security and access, community self-sufficiency, and support to varied enterprises.
At the local level, there are many ways that individuals can support a sustainable food system, one can support local farmers markets, community and school gardens, community-supported agriculture (CSA), pick-your-own farms & roadside stands, and choose restaurant that serve dishes that come from local producers. To reduce waste individuals can recycle, reduce consumption, reuse, and compost waste; this is especially important for corporations, individuals and small businesses. A good example of businesses leading the way is the Heine Bro. Coffee shop in Louisville Kentucky, which is now recycling hundreds of pounds of coffee grounds by composting it, then turning into natural fertilizes, and finally selling it to consumers who wish to use natural fertilizers.
Globally crop production is a highly intensive operation in energy consumption, of the 10-20 percent of the fossil fuel energy that is used by agricultural operations, and 40 percent is indirect energy used in the development of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. In order to reduce high pollution levels of water, air, and food there is an urgent need to switch to natural processes whenever possible and conserve resources, minimize waste, and lessen the impact on the environment. This means limited use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. More reliance on methods such as crop rotations, animal manures, legumes, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks to maintain soil fertility and productivity; and more use of natural ways to manage insects, weeds, and other pests. The emphasis is on prevention of problems and using chemical interventions, such as pesticides, as last resorts (U.N. Report, 1987. Our Common Future. chap. 5).
