b"David Zaruk,the Risk-MongerThe Many Definitions of SustainabilityWith everyone talking about sustainability, how do you define what sustainable agriculture is? BY: ASHLEY ROBINSONSUSTAINABILITY IS A POPULAR word these days,ideas of sustainability and corporate social responsibility were especially in agriculture. With it being used so interchangeably,born. The idea was that people didnt want to take from future its hard to know what exactly sustainability is and what thosegenerations then, so therefore people needed to live within their working in agriculture are expected to do when it comes tomeans, Zaruk explained. achieving their sustainability goals.Now we speak about sustainability related to climate The consumer now is expecting more and more expectingchange, biodiversitykind of hard to measure these things in that everything that they're going to eat is going to be 100sustainability, he added.per cent risk free, natural, no chemicals, David Zaruk, theAgroecologists say sustainability in agriculture is the Risk-Monger, said during a presentation at Manitoba Potatodeindustrialization of farming and moving away from large scale Production Days on Jan. 25, 2023. Now those expectationsfarming to smaller land holders. By doing this, agriculture will are being put up regulated. So how does that happen? Whosmove away from its reliance on chemical inputs therefore making behind that? it sustainable. Zaruk has found its mainly non-governmental organizationsSustainability now is a very value laden concept. It's become (NGOs) telling the government what these regulations shoulda virtue to be sustainable. What does that mean? Something may be. Theres also a lot of foundations involved who fund thesebe natural, but that doesn't mean its sustainable, Zaruk said.organizations, including the organic food industry. However,The term sustainable has evolved, and Zaruk now sees Zaruk said what scares him the most is the effect Americanagriculture as needing sustainable intensification. This means corporate lawyers are having when it comes to issues such asagriculture needs to grow food better by achieving higher yields glyphosate civil lawsuits. on more productive land and using land thats less productive We begin to see here that there are many actors withfor non-agricultural uses. He said technology is key to doing an interest presenting a certain story of what is consideredthis, which is why communication about the importance of sustainable farming, he explains, adding this is what leads totechnology is critical.regulatory changes and removes access to products farmers useCommunication is being able to identify a valuea feeling on their farms. that can be transmitted from one person to another. And a lot Consumers expect zero risk in the food they eat, notof the values that are being attached to the feelings are quite understanding that food production is about risk management,negative about agriculture. So, we really have to work on how to Zaruk said. He finds most regulators dont comprehend how tocommunicate these technologies, Zaruk explained.manage risk and instead take a hazard-based approach to theirTo do this, agriculture needs to speak with one clear concise decisions. At the end of the day, Zaruk has found it comes downvoice to share the same message instead of sharing many to consumer trust and how they are influenced when it comes tomessages that may confuse people. By focusing on the benefits what is considered sustainable.of innovations and how historically innovations have helped The origin of sustainability goes back to 1992 when themove agriculture forward it will help, Zaruk said. 28SPUDSMART.COM Spring 2023"