Activity 2: Defining sustainability
Instructions: Below are two related definitions of sustainability. Read these definition and answer the questions listed below. Be prepared to explain your argumentation with the rest of the class
Questions
1: United Nation definition of Sustainable Development as per the original Brundtland Commission and its Report of 1987, (see also 2007 document): Sustainable development as defined by the Brundtland Commission is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
2: The USDA legal definition of Sustainable Agriculture as cited in von Keyserlingk et al., (2013): An integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:
- satisfy human food and fiber needs,
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends,
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources,
- and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls,
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations,
- and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
Questions
- What do you "see" in each of these definitions?
- What do these definitions imply?
- Discuss the strength and weaknesses of each definition from your own perspective.