Un-Sustainability of Intensive Food Production Systems: Causes and Solutions.

The causes of and solutions for unsustainability vary with different farming systems; they revolve around three pillars: economic, ecological, and social unsustainability. 

1. Economic unsustainability. Inadequate incentives and profit are the main causes. Possible solutions include efficient use of all inputs, reduced wastages, and increased recycling of resources at all levels – all reducing cost and raising profit. Here the primary producers are the most important, but least rewarded and valued by the community – a serious and growing problem to sustainability. Improving farmers' income and livelihoods, paying for farmers’ efforts on environmental services, and attracting youngsters to farming are critical for sustainable farming. 

2. Ecological unsustainability: Growing resource scarcity and degradation plus loss of ecosystem services – clean water and air, fertile soils, biodiversity, clean energy, changing climate – and environmental pollution are the main causes. Soil, water, biodiversity, forests, nutrients and energy must be used prudently and preserved to sustain long-term productivity and equity over time (inter-generational) and distance (between regions and countries). Environmentally benign agricultural practices and technologies will help promote ecologically sustainable farming systems.

3. Social unsustainability: Agriculture impacts people and communities both positively and negatively. Farmers provide healthy nutritious food and ecosystems services to us all. Agriculture being the largest industry provides jobs and improves rural prosperity. These positive aspects must be communicated to people and communities. Negative impacts revolve around farm size; equity of access to natural resources, inputs, and markets; and gender disparity. Grouping of farmers and land consolidation, appropriate mechanization, use of resource-conserving technologies for production and processing, generation of jobs for people moving out of farming, and addressing gender equity will contribute greatly to sustainable farming by both small and large farmers.