Towards complexity of agricultural sustainability assessment: Main issues and concerns

The sustainability of agricultural systems is of paramount concern in order to ensure the survival and wellbeing of humans throughout the world. Sustainability is a complex issue involving multiple factors that fit broadly within economic, social and environmental areas. Given its complexity, this paper examines the question of how sustainability can be assessed in a way that gives a holistic picture of the separate and interrelated factors. The paper then presents a literature review, field experience and the use of complex adaptive systems to identify the issues and concerns that need to be addressed during agricultural sustainability assessment and categorizes them into in seven groups: integration of capitals; maintaining resilience, adaptation and transformation; ensuring system performance; involving stakeholders; mixing interdisciplinary views; integration of scales; and practicing good governance. Based on these issues and concerns, a set of indicators are suggested that will assist with holistic agricultural sustainability assessment in a given area.