SEA Working Paper 97/01 - Abstract
Sustainable Agriculture: A Question of
Ecology, Equity, Economic Efficiency or Expedience?
David J. Pannell and Steven Schilizzi
Agricultural and Resource Economics, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907
Abstract
Sustainability is the paradigm of our time, yet its use as a guide to planning or decision making is clouded by its ambiguity and the multiplicity of definitions in use. In this paper we address the issue of how best to deal with the multi-faceted nature of sustainability. We outline each of the facets of sustainability which have been discussed in the literature, but suggest that most of them boil down to three basic concepts: environmental stability, intergenerational equity and economic efficiency. Nevertheless it remains difficult to link the concept to practical actions and decisions. We argue that a multiple criteria decision making approach is the best solution to this problem. This is consistent with the use of "sustainability indicators", but such indicators need to be selected carefully to be relevant to the essential elements of sustainability.
Citation: Pannell, D.J. and Schilizzi, S. (1999). Sustainable agriculture: A question of ecology, ethics, economic efficiency or expedience? Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 13(4): 57-66. (SEA Working Paper 97/01, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia)
An earlier version of this paper: Pannell, D.J. and Schilizzi, S. (1997). Sustainable agriculture: A question of Ecology, Economics, Ethics or Expedience? Paper presented at the 41st Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, Gold Coast, Queensland, Jan 22-24 1997.
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