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Sustainability is a broad term that’s important to just about every industry today, from businesses to technology to social and environmental sciences. According to Merriam-Webster, sustainable generally means “capable of being sustained.” In the case of sustainable farming, it’s defined as “of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”

The fact is, farmers have been thinking about sustainability for a long time. The dozens of farmers I’ve met all have a passion for caring for their land, wildlife, air, and water. They view sustainability as producing crops and livestock in an efficient way that preserves the environment while maintaining the well-being of their animals, land, families, and the community around them. This is done in part by using advanced specialized veterinary healthcare, genetic technology, and advanced nutrition for plant crops and animal production.

If farmers from the past didn’t care for the soil and the land, there wouldn’t be arable land available today to grow crops on. Keep in mind that sustainability encompasses more than just the environment. It’s the intersection of environment, economics, and social responsibility. The work of bringing food to your table isn’t sustainable if it isn’t also economically viable.

However, you don’t have to look far to read or hear statements that demonize ingredients — or worse, demonize the farmers and ranchers who work hard to grow and cultivate our food. The topic of sustainability has garnered a lot of attention over the past several years. Concerns are often encompassed within the context of scientific, economic, and political stances. Like just about every topic these days, a lot of misinformation and disagreement exists.

These are challenging times for the world. Food waste contributes greenhouse gasses to the environment and is part of the climate change issue. You and I can start by making changes in our own kitchens, but it’s also important to understand a little about what sustainability in agriculture looks like and the roles of all the other players. Many people, across all food-related industries, are working to manage the nexus between food and climate to feed a growing population while also protecting the planet.