Most sustainable farming systems are biologically-based and designed to be productive in both the short and long term. Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals - environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Because it is more a philosophical approach to agriculture than a set of farming practices, the specific practices that can be called sustainable vary depending on the crop and the specific environmental and social issues important to a region. Organic farming excludes the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals and then certifies this to be the case. Often, however, approaches to management of soil health can be similar between organic and sustainable farming systems.
Growers frequently ask if synthetic chemicals are appropriate in a sustainable farming system.
Converting to sustainable practices does not mean simple input substitution. Instead, sustainable farming substitutes enhanced management and scientific knowledge for conventional inputs, especially chemical inputs that may harm the environment on farms and in rural communities. The goal of sustainable agriculture is to develop efficient, biological systems that do not need high levels of material inputs. Making the transition to sustainable agriculture is a process. For farmers, the transition to sustainable agriculture normally requires a series of small, realistic steps.