What are sustainable practices in increasing food production?

Sustainable practices in increasing food production include organic farming, permaculture, crop rotation, and precision agriculture.

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilisers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones. It is a holistic system designed to optimise the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the ecosystem. This includes soil organisms, plants, livestock, and people. The principal goal of organic farming is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.

Permaculture, on the other hand, is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. It is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities.

Crop rotation is the practice of growing different types of crops in the same area in sequenced seasons. It is done so that the soil of farms is not used for only one set of nutrients. It helps in reducing soil erosion and increases soil fertility and crop yield. This type of farming is a non-chemical way to fight pests, as the life cycle of pests is interrupted when a new type of crop is planted.

Precision agriculture is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops. It involves making precise decisions about the soil, crop, and weather conditions, pests, and other factors. The goal of precision agriculture research is to define a decision support system for whole farm management with the goal of optimising returns on inputs while preserving resources.

All these practices aim to increase food production in a sustainable way, ensuring that the environment is not harmed and that future generations can also benefit from the same resources.