The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is devoted to advancing sustainable agriculture through the leadership of national programs and the funding of research and extension. It provides competitive grant programs and a professional development program, and collaborates with other federal agencies through the USDA Sustainable Development Council. In order to achieve sustainable agricultural production, strategies must be formulated and implemented to improve the maintenance of soil fertility, and relevant agricultural policy instruments must be adjusted accordingly. Sustainable agriculture can reduce soil erosion and restore its fertility, which is essential for sufficient agricultural production.
Domestic and regional agricultural policies must be reviewed in relation to foreign trade, pricing policy, exchange rate policies, agricultural subsidies and taxes, as well as the organization for regional economic integration. Policies, laws, regulations and incentives must be formulated, introduced and monitored to lead to sustainable agricultural and rural development, as well as the improvement of food security. This includes the development and transfer of appropriate agricultural technologies, such as Low Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA). Direct marketing of agricultural products may include selling at farmers' markets, roadside stands, or through the World Wide Web; delivery to restaurants and small grocery stores; and managing community-supported agricultural businesses (CSAs).In addition, information should be developed through non-governmental organizations to promote an international organic farming network that accelerates the development and implementation of organic farming practices. However, almost all agricultural activities pollute the atmospheric air due to chemical applications, dust produced by field activities, fossil fuel emissions from agricultural equipment, and livestock production of methane. Sustainable agricultural practices are those that allow a more efficient use of natural resources, mitigate the impact of agriculture on the environment, and strengthen the capacity to adapt to climate change and climate variability.
Support and training services should be provided that recognize the variation of agricultural circumstances and practices from place to place. This includes optimal use of agricultural inputs with minimal external inputs; optimal use of local natural resources; management of renewable energy sources; and establishment of networks that deal with the exchange of information on alternative forms of agriculture. In order to achieve sustainable agricultural development, a more open and non-discriminatory trading system should be promoted in accordance with relevant internationally agreed principles on trade and the environment. This will facilitate greater integration of agricultural and environmental policies so that they are mutually supportive.
