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Widespread adoption of non-conventional agriculture: Profitability and impacts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Sandra S. Batie  and
Daniel B. Taylor
Sandra S. Batie
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
Daniel B. Taylor
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
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Abstract

Conventional agriculture is increasingly criticized as being too concentrated in ownership; too reliant on technology, petroleum-based inputs, and credit; too specialized and ecologically unsound; and too dependent on government subsidies. Alternative agriculture is offered by many as an alternative, and we discuss the possible impacts of its widespread adoption on farm income, yields, regions, labor, trade, environmental quality, and farm structure. The profitability of alternative agriculture is also examined - in so doing, a distinction is made between the adoption of low-input practices and a more holistic alternative agricultural system.

Keywords

organic agricultureconventional agriculturelow-input agriculturealternative agriculturefertilizerspesticides
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 4 , Issue 3-4 , December 1989 , pp. 128 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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