Cultivating a crop of ideas: An investigation into the potential of organic agriculture to provide a framework for sustainable agriculture: Presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Resource Management)

Abstract

The purpose of this report is provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary evaluation of the potential of organic agriculture to contribute towards a framework for sustainable agriculture. This report examines the past and present practices of agriculture in an international and national context. As agricultural production has intensified to meet the growing needs of an expanding population, considerable adverse effects have been incurred on the environment. These effects are discussed by applying an ecological, economic, sociocultural, policy and institutional disciplinary perspective. Concerns regarding these effects have initiated a growing interest into more sustainable forms of agriculture. As there is no universal definition of 'sustainable agriculture,' criteria were derived to facilitate a general understanding of the concept. As with sustainable agriculture, there is no universal definition of organic agriculture, therefore its characteristics were established. A framework was created based upon the relationship between the sustainable agriculture criteria and the characteristics of organic agriculture. Organic agriculture has a role to play in the quest for sustainable agriculture because, theoretically, the characteristics of organic agriculture fulfil the criteria derived for sustainable agriculture. A number of opportunities exist for organic production to contribute to sustainable agriculture in New Zealand. However, significant issues within the economic, institutional and policy context and philosophical context constrain the potential of organic agriculture to provide a framework for sustainable agriculture.