For a Sustainable Agriculture, We Need More Adam Smith, Not Less

There are two competing approaches sustainability in agriculture. One stresses a strict economic approach in which market forces should be allowed to guide the activities of agricultural producers. The other advocates the need to balance economic with environmental and social objectives, even to the point of reducing profitability. This paper shows how the writings of the 18 century moral philosopher Adam Smith could bridge the debate. First, he is recognized by those advocating the economic approach as an architect of modern economics. Second, his writings are consistent with many aspects of sustainable agriculture. Smith argues that people ought to exercise restraint in their pursuit of self-interest. He also recognizes the need to balance economic with environmental and social considerations. One implication is that advocates of sustainable agriculture might be more effective by actively promoting the work of Adam Smith. * An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2005 meetings of the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society, June 2005, Portland, OR. This project was supported in part by the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. For a Sustainable Agriculture, We Need More Adam Smith, Not Less According to the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), sustainability refers to meeting "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." At face value, sustainable agriculture ought to be consistent with mainstream economics. Agriculture that strains the environment risks increasing production costs, which limits the viability of agriculture over time. However, there seems to be persistent conflict in the literature – and in public discourse – between advocates of sustainable agriculture and proponents of the idea that we should let economics forces (i.e., the market) run their course and thus determine how agriculture operates. On the one hand, advocates of sustainable agriculture argue that a market-oriented agriculture creates incentives for producers to increase the scale and intensity of their farming operations so that the long-term viability and environmental stability of the land is jeopardized. On the other hand, proponents of an economic-based, free market approach to agriculture argue that market forces should be enhanced rather than restricted because the pursuit of profit will ensure that agricultural producers have the incentive to practice sustainable techniques. Can differences between sustainable agriculture and economic-based perspectives can be mitigated if not eliminated. Is there a common ground? If so, how do we get there? The writings of the 18 century moral philosopher Adam Smith might provide a means of bridging both sides of the debate. This is because Adam Smith is widely recognized as the architect of modern, market-oriented economics, but his writings can also be shown to be consistent with many aspects of sustainable agriculture. This paper highlights important elements of Adam Smith's writings to show how his system is aligned with principles of sustainable