Today, more and more global companies are focusing not only on making a profit but also on how they do business and whether their impact on the world around them is negative or positive. Sustainability has become an integral part of any successful business in recent years. Modern investors, auditors, and, most importantly, consumers are increasingly paying attention to how much this or that business cares about the environment and people. Especially, this concerns food production and hence the agricultural industry.
Currently, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the broadest and most structured international sustainable development agenda not only for national governments, the nonprofit sector, academic institutions, and civil society but also for business, which is officially included by the UN among the main drivers for achieving global sustainability goals.
SDGs Today
The current state of the issue of sustainable development in the world is twofold: the path to achieving the goals has already begun, but there is still no end to the work. It is worth noting a number of important aspects. First, a big breakthrough in achieving the sustainable development goals has been that 193 states are aware of this and strive to follow the principles of sustainability. This means more and more companies worldwide commit to shifting towards sustainability. An example of this would be EOSDA sustainability commitment.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a kind of call to action coming from all countries — poor, rich, and developing. It aims to improve the well-being and protection of our planet. Governments recognize that actions to end poverty must go hand in hand with efforts to increase economic growth and address a range of issues in education, health, social protection and employment, as well as combating climate change and protecting the environment.
Each of the SDG’s is designed to solve certain extremely serious global challenges facing humanity. Achieving these goals requires a lot of effort and time. States set themselves ambitious goals and gradually achieve their solution. Annual reports create positive competition, which inevitably leads to progress.
The Role of Agriculture in Achieving SDGs
In the global context of sustainable development, agriculture plays a leading role: the agro-industrial sector is the world’s largest employer and is often involved in global land use. It endangers natural ecosystems and accounts for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture and the food industry take central place in the world economy. That is why investments in agriculture have one of the best effects when it comes to enhancing economic growth, improving food security, and fighting poverty.
However, today’s food production has increased significantly, and the overuse of irreplaceable resources or agrochemicals has harmed the environment. Only with in-depth knowledge, modern and updated farm management practices and technologies, farmers today can maintain high yields while protecting the environment. Now, it is already recognized that the sustainable development of the agri sector is an important element of “green” growth and sustainability.
The main task of agriculture is to produce food at a level that will ensure food security, satisfy growing demand and adhere to the principles of sustainable development. Within this sector, this means that basic resources (such as soil, nutrients, and water) cannot be used indiscriminately. Therefore, solutions aimed at sustainable development of agricultural activities should focus on improving the efficiency of resources’ use.
Climate change, soil degradation, and growing population make the task of sustainable food production more difficult. Supporting food production in these conditions requires the implementation of sustainable agriculture principles. One of the ways to do this effectively is to use satellite monitoring possibilities.
For example, the EOSDA company provides satellite imagery analytics solutions for 22 industries. For forestry, the possibilities of satellite monitoring include forest health monitoring, deforestation detection and tracking, wildfires identification, and much more. And the company’s solutions for precision farming helps growers, input suppliers, and other agro market players tackle their most pressing issues. The technologies enable fast and effective decision-making, helping to increase yields while reducing the harmful impact on the environment.
Prospects for Implementing Sustainability
The principles of sustainable development are already being introduced everywhere. Representatives of many responsible brands place information on proper disposal on the packaging, making this packaging from environmentally friendly raw materials. Coffee houses give discounts to those who come with their own mug.
Every day the number of such examples is steadily growing. These days, it is difficult for any business that is not related to sustainable development to enter the international market. And agricultural business is definitely no exception, being a part of a huge industry that feeds the world and consumes huge amounts of natural resources. Food production inevitably contributes to such global issues as climate change, soil degradation, resource depletion, poverty, hunger, and more. That is why sustainable agribusiness is a necessity in the modern world.
As the world continues to face immense challenges, it has become increasingly clear that society’s future is largely dependent on its ability to develop sustainably. Among the sectors that have taken on this profound responsibility is agriculture, which has had to balance the needs of growing populations with the limited resources of the planet.
The United Nations has recognized this challenge and developed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide corporations towards a sustainable future. Agriculture is one industry that has embraced this framework, with an increasing number of agricultural businesses committing to the SDGs.
These SDGs are a set of 17 goals that cover everything from ending poverty and hunger to achieving gender equality and ensuring clean water and sanitation. The agriculture sector has a critical role in achieving many of these goals since it is integral to both food production and natural resource management.
Agro-industries have responded to the SDGs by focusing on increased productivity and efficiency, as well as the responsible use of natural resources. This has led to advances in agricultural technology, such as precision farming, which minimizes the use of pesticides and fertilizers and reduces waste.
Additionally, sustainable agriculture practices such as organic farming, agroforestry, and conservation agriculture, are being widely adopted. These approaches aim to restore soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect natural habitats while still producing high-quality crops.
Sustainable agriculture is not only environmentally responsible but also financially sound. As consumers become increasingly conscious of issues of sustainability, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly products. Hence, farmers and agribusinesses that promote sustainable agriculture are more likely to receive premium prices for their products.
In conclusion, the agriculture sector’s commitment to the SDGs is a beacon of hope in an ever-changing world. By adopting sustainable practices, agribusinesses are helping protect natural resources, reduce poverty, and promote economic growth. The future of our planet depends on our ability to address these challenges, and agriculture is playing its part.
