A Consultancy Approach to Sustainable Agriculture: Creating Meaning through Engagement, Communities of Practice, and Holistic Systems Thinking

Abstract

Today’s conventional agricultural practices are created to meet our society’s global demand for food and energy products. However, these conventional practices have begun to create concern for the environment and human health. As a result, a related discipline, known as sustainable agriculture has been created within agriculture itself. Sustainable agriculture is a new concept in that much of society is not familiar with it or understands it. I propose a socially conscious framework that encourages connections, relationships, and knowledge building within sustainable agriculture to create growth and expand its current practice. Harnessing the disciplines of engagement, communities of practice and systems thinking, I encourage the use of consultants to guide sustainable agriculture communities and key players to develop and strengthen the social aspects of their community. I utilize the ADDIE model (analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate) to guide the community through the development of the social aspects of agriculture towards successful implementation. The result will ultimately enable sustainable agriculture communities to grow their practice by creating agricultural products that positively impact the economic, environmental and social aspects of our lives.