Final answer:
Sustainable agriculture is a farming system that aims to meet current and future food and fiber needs while enhancing environmental quality, using resources efficiently, maintaining economic viability, and improving the quality of life. Defined by the 1990 'Farm Bill', it contrasts with conventional farming by focusing on long-term ecological sustainability.
Step-by-step explanation:
An integrated system of farming that seeks to meet long-term food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality, use resources efficiently, sustain economic viability, and improve the quality of life is referred to as sustainable agriculture. This approach was defined by Congress in the 1990 'Farm Bill' and includes practices that make efficient use of nonrenewable and on-farm resources, integrate natural biological cycles and controls, and sustain the economic viability of farm operations. Sustainable agriculture also aims to improve the overall quality of life for farmers and society and is seen as necessary to maintain the productivity of ecosystems indefinitely.
Conventional farming, also known as modern or industrial agriculture, has significantly increased food production, but sustainable agriculture incorporates more environmentally friendly practices. The concept of sustainability in farming is crucial, as it addresses the need for ecological balance by maintaining nutrient cycles and biodiversity, which are often disrupted by traditional farming methods. Sustainable agriculture is being increasingly integrated into agricultural policy, as farmers and ranchers adopt innovative approaches geared towards long-term ecological viability.