ACTA SCIENTIARUM POLONORUM - SGGW

Economic sustainability of agriculture – conceptions and indicators 123varied and reasonably priced food, produced within accordance with generally acceptedenvironmental and social standards, flexible and competitive industry which contributesto an economically viable rural society, effective protection of the environment and prudentuse of natural resources, conserved and enhanced landscape, wildlife, cultural andarcheological value of agricultural land and respecting of high level of animal welfare,contribute to the long-term sustainability of rural communities [DEFRA 2006].The OECD definition of sustainable agriculture says that this is agricultural productionthat is economically viable and does not degrade the environment over the long run[OECD 2000a]. As detailed in a report by the Committee for Agriculture of the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) changes in perception in relationto the interpretation of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) areemerging: “The first is that the concept must extend to social, institutional and economicsustainability and not exclusively environmental sustainability – the conservation andrational utilization of natural resources. Those now working on SARD understand thatsustainability means that management practices must be profitable and socially and culturallysuitable, and must satisfy local requirements such as property rights over naturalresources. The second is a new focus on development as a process which must allow forcalculated trade-offs between reductions in the stock of natural capital (forests, unexploitedfreshwater, etc.) and the generation of resources for investment in human and socialcapital (healthier and better educated people, technical knowledge and infrastructure).These shifts in perception increase the challenge of implementing SARD, but also openup opportunities for doing so” [The Place… 2001].In the United States the term ‘sustainable agriculture’ was defined in 1977 year asan integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific applicationthat will, over the long-term satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmentalquality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economydepends, make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resourcesand integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls, sustain the economicviability of farm operations and enhance the quality of life for farmers and societyas a whole [National… 1977]. The United States Network of Sustainable AgricultureResearch and Education (SARE) defines thus sustainable agriculture refers to an agriculturalproduction and distribution system that achieves the integration of natural biologicalcycles and controls, protects and renews soil fertility and the natural resource base,optimizes the management and use of on-farm resources, reduces the use of non-renewableresources and purchased production inputs, provides an adequate and dependablefarm income, promotes opportunity in family farming and farm communities, minimizesadverse impacts on health, safety, wildlife, water quality and the environment [Food…1990].In the European Union (EU) interventionism in the farming sector has become astandard rather than an exception, which it is for non-farming sectors of economy. Atthe beginning of the 21st century, a number of questions have arisen, e.g. whether stateinterventionism was one of the causes of attenuating eco-development by resulting inan intensification of the farming economy in the former era. Will it presently enable tointroduce social and political changes and will it determine farmers to implement thecurrent targets of economic policy, not straining the budget? So far, the main aim of theOeconomia 10 (1) 2011