ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the various challenges to the conventional food system. Their success can be measured in different ways, as each is driven toward different ends by a variety of interests, goals, and segments of the population. Organic agriculture is often traced to the beginning of the twentieth century. Early luminaries to promote organic farming methods include Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, Sir Albert Howard and Lady Eve Balfour, the Swiss couple Maria and Dr. Hans Mller, and the German physician H. P. Rusch. Despite some differences between the approaches, the main aim of organic farming its spirit, to create a sustainable agricultural production system. Attention is especially given to the resources and livelihood assets that they have access to and make use of natural resources, knowledge, health, and access to education, sources of credit, and networks of social support. Sustainable livelihoods approaches offer ways to focus on the livelihoods of poor people when grappling with the issue of socio-economic development.
