Some perceive that agriculture has contributed to the earth's environmental degradation in the past, while others argue that agricultural development is compatible with sound natural resource management. This depends on the type of agricultural development that is practiced. However, there are agricultural practices that can be sustainable, such as use of more diversified and traditional varieties to spread the risks of yield failure. In the dry areas, livestock provide the most efficient use of calories and nutrients, which, combined with agriculture, provide nonagricultural, income- generating activities. What is most important is not considering agricultural development in an isolated way.
Agricultural development is part of the entire complex issue of sustainable development.
But, back to being a Cassandra, the evidence is overwhelmingly not in favor of agriculture having a neutral or positive impact on the environment. There is a dimension of agriculture that would cause anybody to pause. On the positive side of the coin, there is pretty good evidence showing that in Europe, soils are in much better shape today than they were 150 to 200 years ago, probably because of the right balance of careful management and policy instruments. There need not be the doom and gloom scenario. Proper citation is required.