Center for Sustainability

Center for Sustainability

Agriculture for Tomorrow


A College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Program

Cal Poly landscape

Stewards of Tomorrow

Preparing leaders in sustainability through education, research, outreach, and operations.

To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.

  —Mahatma Gandhi

List of Resources

Heirloom tomatoesProfiles

Learn about some of Cal Poly's past and ongoing programs in sustainable agriculture

Beekeeping and Pollinator Conservation
Composting
Organic Agriculture
Rangeland Management
Sustainable Forestry

The following are some links to excellent resources for sustainable agriculture, both local and national 

CAMPUS LINKS
College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences (CAFES)
Cal Poly Organic Farm
Cal Poly Land
Cal Poly Campus Sustainability
Career Services - Green Career Resources
Swanton Pacific Ranch

RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Association
City Farm SLO
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
Ecological Farming Association
Ecology Action (Grow Biointensive)
Environmental Defense Fund
Fibershed
Holistic Management International
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
The Land Institute
The Land Stewardship Project
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
National Family Farm Coalition
The Nature Conservancy
Permaculture Institute
Permaculture Research Institute
Roots of Change
Savory Institute
Soil Carbon Coalition
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE)
UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP)
Vineyard Team
World Neighbors

METRICS AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN AGRICULTURE
American Grass-fed Association
ANSI Agriculture Standard
California Sustainable Winegrowing Program
Certified Animal Welfare Approved
Equitable Food Initiative 
Fair Trade Certified
Food Alliance
Forest Stewardship Council 
Field to Market  
National Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture
Rainforest Alliance
Regenerative Organic Certified
SCS Global Services
Sure Harvest
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative
Sustainability Consortium
Sustainable Food Lab
Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops
Sustainability in Practice

WEBSITES FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
California Organic Program (CDFA)
eOrganic
Organic Center
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
Organic Produce Network
Organic Trade Association
Rodale Institute
Soil Association (Great Britain)
USDA National Organic Program


Sustainable Agriculture

The concept of "sustainable agriculture" has been developed and embraced by a cross-section of experts from many different disciplines. It is commonly understood to include three main goals: environmental health, economic viability and social responsibility in the long term. In other words, a sustainable food and agricultural system is one which is ecologically vital, profitable, just for all involved, and humane. A truly sustainable system fully meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

California Agricultural Vision
Since the release of the California Agricultural Vision (Ag Vision) report in December 2010, the Ag Vision Advisory Committee has continued progress on the strategies and action items within the report to ensure a vibrant future for the state. The Ag Vision is a strategic plan for the future of the state's agricultural and food system which was motivated by the rapidly growing list of challenges facing agriculture, from regulations and water suppliers to urbanization and climate change. The "California Agricultural Vision: From Strategies to Results" documents the ongoing progress of the Ag Vision Advisory Committee's work and that of other stakeholders in addressing the 12 key strategies for California's agriculture and food sector. (Read Full Document)

Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century
"U.S. agriculture has had an impressive history of productivity that has resulted in relatively affordable food, feed, and fiber for domestic purposes and increases in agricultural exports. Fewer farmers are producing more food and fiber on about the same acreage, while input and energy use per unit output has decreased over the last 50 years. Despite these tremendous advances, U.S. farmers are facing the daunting challenges of meeting the food, feed, and fiber needs of the nation and of a growing global population and of contributing to U.S. biofuel production, under the constraints of rising production costs, increasingly scarce natural resources, and climate change. Agriculture is at a pivotal stage in terms of meeting societal demands for products while improving sustainability." (Read Full Document)
 

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