ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the issues mentioned in the introduction, starting with the importance of agriculture as land use system for the rural population and its contribution to food security. The goal is that through sustainable agriculture, resource use should be reduced and resource degradation should be avoided or counteracted. The concept of sustainable agriculture is then introduced and the importance of sustainable use of the different agricultural capitals is explained. Aims and characteristics of sustainable agriculture are described and approaches on how to assess them through indicator systems are explained. The debate on sustainable agriculture usually starts with questions about the need for further increases in agricultural production and yields. Sustainable agriculture is both a mission statement as well as a characteristic of the mode of production. An important goal of sustainable agriculture is the inclusion of farmers when it comes to changing production systems.
