SUSTAINABLE development is the mantra of the 21st century. It is applied to just about everything from energy to clean water and economic growth, and as a result it has become difficult to question either the basic assumptions behind it or the way the concept is put to use. This is especially true in agriculture, where sustainable development is often taken as the sole measure of progress – always a dangerous notion – without a proper appreciation of historical and cultural perspectives.
To start with, it is important to remember that the nature of agriculture – its benefits and its impact on…
