So to say profits are not important would be very foolish. In fact, there are many ways that a sustainable system can actually increase the profit margin for farmers over what they gained through conventional systems. Profits will be seen in the short-run, but the effects on profit in the long run will really be obvious to those involved. One reason that a sustainable agricultural system will produce a good profit margin is because there is a reduced number of inputs into the agroecosystem. Reducing pesticide usage is a big factor.
Pesticides are very expensive to purchase and to apply.
A sustainable system that uses pesticides only when it is absolutely necessary will save money and thereby increase profit. Decreasing pesticide use will also decrease the build up of pest resistance, which will save money in the long run. Another input that can be reduced, is the use of synthetic fertilizers. In a sustainable system, more emphasis is placed on the use of organic fertilizers and preserving, recycling, and fixating nutrients already in the soil. Even if the yield a farmer gets is not as high as it would be with a conventional system, he will still make as much or more profit because of the lowered amount of money he put into managing the crops.