ABSTRACT

This chapter will explore various linkages between agriculture and the environment. The study of the relationship between the two is important for a number of reasons, among them the impact of the natural and physical environment on agriculture and food production. For example, climate change and variability can have serious repercussions for farmers and consumers (Gregory et al. 2005). Furthermore, agriculture is important as a source of employment and income for many people, especially in the developing world. As this chapter will demonstrate, sustainable agriculture is intimately linked with the production and consumption of food and issues related to health. In brief, agriculture and the environment are at the centre of debates on sustainability. These include considerations of environmental justice and ecological justice which underlie many of the issues that will be discussed here.