Agriculture: A Fundamental Principle

Abstract

Proper agricultural development is a “fundamental principle” conductive “to the advancement of mankind and to the reconstruction of the world” For this reason, Bahá’u’lláh instructs us to give “special regard” to agricultural development, but to a form of development shaped by and serving the goals of unity, justice, equity, and sustainability. The task of building a new social and economic order is associated with the redesign of food and agricultural systems, locally and internationally. A survey of the Bahá’í writings imparts vision of appropriate leading values for agriculture to ensure that development results in both ecological and economic viability. The survey further consider some of the implications for agriculture of the human/nature relationship, the role of women, the role of science and technology, and the relationship between globalism and local community development.