OUTLINING THE SUSTAINABILITY INDEX FOR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND APPLYING THE INDEX FOR PURPOSES OF PRODUCTION TO END HUNGER

Abstract

This paper attempts to firstly delineate the generalized environmental sustainability index for agricultural systems. The agricultural index for sustainability is a complex phenomenon but requires a rudimentary understanding in respect of definition and applicability with respect to understanding the global problem of alleviating hunger. Some of the models used are quantitative in nature to evaluate performance of the index in respect of the environmental perspective, comprising both on - and off – site environmental effects associated with agricultural systems used to evaluate agricultural performance in order to alleviate and deal with the challenges that hunger presents. It is often used in deali8ng with inherent soil productivity and groundwater availability; and the potential to degrade the surrounding environment. Results of the agricultural index for agricultural systems in various studies show that ESI is capable of demonstrating clear differences among crop management systems with respect to sustainability. It is not the idea of this paper to delve into these issues in any detail but to underscore the point of their importance in as far as they are used to determine the challenges of dealing with the food and hunger equation. The paper will therefore deal with the idea or rather concept of sustainable production to end hunger. The aim here is not the maximum conceivable production of food but rather sustainable and environmentally supported agriculture in terms of crop production. This will certainly be enough to feed a large population the world over. It is against this background that the paper will discuss the sustainability index for agricultural systems and the possibilities to deal with the challenges of global hunger. In other words defeating hunger remains a priority and argues how this should happen. It also posits that the position of women must be improved because they play a key role in food production, but earn less and have fewer rights. Reducing the proportion of undernourished people by half until 2015 was one of the Millennium Development Goals that the international community set in 2000. This will not be reached. Another aspect or challenge that urgently needs to be addressed is the question of food waste. The paper is not all encompassing and does not pretend to capture all the aspects that permeate these vexing but crucial issues.