Guide to sustainable agriculture

The idea of preserving the surrounding environment in a state of equilibrium has a centuries-old tradition, and as early as the beginning of the 18th century (in 1713), with regard to forest management, Hans Carl von Carlowitz proposed cutting down only as many trees as could grow back in the forest in their place.

Agricultural production, like other sectors of the economy, is regulated by relevant legislation in EU and non-EU countries. Some of these form the legal basis for sustainable agriculture.

Financial stability is one of the key pillars of any business. Without it, there is no question of success, or even survival in the market. However, this issue becomes particularly important in the case of a family-run, generational business – such as a farm.

A farm is a kind of enterprise that is most dependent on its farmer’s own decisions, both present and future, weather events, as well as soil and climate conditions, the supply markets of the farm and the sales of its products.

The level and quality of yield primarily depends on the genetic features of crops, their yielding potential and specific quality characteristics that manifest under specific production conditions.

Soil is formed on the surface of the Earth’s crust. It is a natural, biologically active, three-phased system formed by weathered rocks, as well as dead and living organic matter. Soil is formed and changed as a result of climate conditions, time, and living organisms, including microorganisms and humans.

The management of soil nutrients requires knowledge on their contents (soil richness), change dynamics and availability. It also requires knowledge on the functions of the fundamental factors determining the effectiveness of crop nutrition (water, pH, organic matter) and their mutual relationships.

Crop protection is an element of crop production aimed at preventing the loss of yield caused by agrophages and securing the agricultural produce during its storage. Crop protection does not directly influence a higher yield, but is a guarantee that such a yield will be obtained and ensures stability of its quantity and sustainability.

One source of danger to humans and the environment is hazardous chemicals used in agricultural production or left over from production on farms. Plant protection products, mineral fertilisers and fuels or oils used in mechanical equipment can be particularly hazardous.

The most significant factors affecting crop yields include the amount of available water and the quantity of solar radiation. Proper water management is possible and necessary. Agriculture utilises approximately 70% of the water used in worldwide human economy.

Our environment contains an abundance of living organisms, only some of which are visible to the human eye, yet all of them influence one another and us. Thanks to the multitude and diversity of the life forms around us, we have food and enjoy the beauty of nature. On the other hand, however, we need to protect our health, crops and homes.

Agricultural activity is one of the significant sources of air pollution. Unfortunately, the knowledge of this fact is not rooted in social awareness, because the emission of pollutants is dispersed, and therefore hardly visible.

Every entrepreneur strives to develop their business, increase revenue, reduce costs and thus achieve better and better results. This is perfectly reasonable and rational; after all, this is what running a business is all about, where the owner takes responsibility not only for the institution itself, but also for the people he or she employs.

Working conditions are all the factors in an organisation that are related to the nature of the work and the environment in which it is carried out. Working conditions include, but are not limited to: the location of the company and workplace, the facility and scope of work, the material equipment of the working environment.

Occupational health and safety (OSH) is a commonly used term for a set of rules for the safe and hygienic performance of work, and is a separate field of knowledge dealing with the shaping of appropriate working conditions.

Local community – it is a group of people living within a relatively small, designated area, including for example a parish, or a village, in which there are strong ties resulting from common interests and needs, as well as a sense of being rooted and belonging to the place they live in.

Livestock production is the most difficult branch of agricultural production. Taking into account all limitations and conditions, there is no more complicated and demanding direction of production.

Sustainable development is not a one-off action currently in force, but it will be implemented in the next years and decades, and one of its basic assumptions will be the use of new achievements that allow you to get closer to optimal functioning in all areas of life.