Integrated farming: the way to sustainable agriculture in Latvia

Abstract

Agricultural production is currently at a crossroads due to the need to balance the requirements of climate, biodiversity, air quality, and access to food health, farmers' incomes and economic conditions. These demands are often controversial, and the goals of policy makers are contradictory. Sustainability in agriculture needs to be put into practice. The concept of sustainable agriculture is based on agro-ecology and a system approach and aims to promote sustainable, resilient, cost-effective and stable farming systems. Based on the analysis of the scientific literature and the current situation, the paper authors have concluded that a logical path to sustainability is integrated agriculture. It is a whole farm management system that allows farmers to identify opportunities and threats and act accordingly, while also taking into account the interests of consumers in their business. The paper aims to outline the role of integrated agriculture in the development of sustainable agriculture based on the analysis of the relevant scientific literature and the current situation. Integrated management is the knowledge-based management of all available resources integrated farms are able to provide climate benefits, provide more diverse (especially pasture) land management, farm animals have a higher quality of life and survival.