The National Agricultural Law Center
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Last updated June 2009




Sustainable Agriculture



Overview

While the term "sustainable agriculture" is not clearly defined, most definitions include four basic goals: adequate food and fiber production; sound environmental stewardship; economic viability; and development of strong rural communities. Sustainable agriculture may be understood as a process of striking a balance among these goals, viewing them as complementary rather than competing. Read the full overview

Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.

Major Statutes

Definitions, 7 U.S.C. § 3103(18)
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, 7 U.S.C. §§ 5801-5832
Organic Certification, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6523

Case Law

Note: Recently summarized cases are listed and linked in Recent Postings.

Case Law Index for Sustainable Agriculture

Center Research Publications

Farmers Markets: Rules, Regulations and Opportunities (Hamilton)
A Legal Guide to the National Organic Program (Pittman)

Congressional Research Service Reports

CRS Subject(s):
Sustainable and Organic
Environmental Issues
Food Security/Aid

Agricultural Law Bibliography

Introduction   |   Keyword Search   |   Browse Categories

Legal publications on Sustainable Agriculture:
Food and Drug Law
Fruits and Vegetables - Perishable Agricultural Commodities
Hunger and Food Security Issues
Hunting, Recreation and Wildlife
Land Use Regulation
Pesticides, Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Fertilizers
Sustainable and Organic Farming
Water Rights; Agriculturally Related

Reference Resources

USDA
Organic Production (NAL)
Small Farms (CSREES)
Small Farm Resource Guide (CSREES, 2006)
Small Farms and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Policy (2006)
Green Technologies for a More Sustainable Agriculture (Economics Research Service, 1999)
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC-National Agricultural Library)


USDA-Supported Organizations
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
(ATTRA-NCAT)


Other Congressional Resources
Agricultural Conservation: USDA Needs to Better Ensure Protection of Highly Erodible Croplands
and Wetlands (Government Accountability Office – GAO, 2003)
Sustainable Agriculture: Program Management, Accomplishments and Opportunities (GAO, 1992)
Alternative Agriculture: Federal Incentives and Farmers’ Opinions (GAO, 1990)


Other Federal Resources
Using Vertically Coordinated Relationships to Overcome Tight Supply in the Organic Market (ERS, 2008)
The Use of Markets to Increase Private Investment in Environmental Stewardship (ERS)
Sustainable Agriculture (USAID)


Publications
Establishing Land Use Protections for Farmers' Markets (Public Health Law & Policy, 2009)
Establishing Land Use Protections for Community Gardens (Public Health Law & Policy, 2009)
Environmental Resource Indicators for Measuring Outcomes of On-Farm Agricultural Production in the United States,
First Report (Field to Market: The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture)
Hushed Up: Confidentiality Clauses in Organic Milk Contracts (FLAG, 2008)
A Human Rights Framework for World Food and Nutrition Security (UN General Assembly, 2008)
If Your Farm Is Organic, Must It Be GMO-Free? Organic Farmers, Genetically Modified Organisms,
and the Law (FLAG, 2007)
Of Affected Acres and Alternative Markets: Which Way for Organic Farmers? (FLAG CLE seminar, 2006)
Future Issues in Agricultural Law and Rural Practice (FLAG CLE seminar, 2006)
Exploring Sustainability in Agriculture (SARE)
Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction (Earles, ATTRA, 2005)
Applying the Principles of Sustainable Farming (Sullivan, ATTRA, 2003)
Building Better Rural Places: Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship,
Conservation and Community Development (Krome et al., USDA et al., 2005)
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural
Businesses (MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture & Sustainable Agriculture Network, 2003)
Sustainable Agriculture Network, Building Soils for Better Crops (Magdoff & van Es, 2000)
Sustainable Agriculture Network, Manage Insects on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies
(Altieri, 2005)
External Costs of Agricultural Production in the United States (Tegtmeier & Duffy, 2004)
Rising Energy Prices and Iowa Farmers (Duffy & Smith, 2005)
Workshop Report, Trilateral Cooperation to Promote the Protection of Water Quality Through
Sustainable Agriculture (IISD, 2003)


Additional Resources
Sustainable Agriculture Posts (United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog)
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Winrock International, Henry A. Wallace Center for Agriculture and Environmental Policy
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development





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