From WLockeretz@infonet.tufts.eduThu Mar 14 12:24:13 1996 Date: Wed, 13 Mar 96 12:26:32 EST From: Willie Lockeretz To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Discussion articles on sustainability As editor of American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, I am delighted that several articles we have published on fundamental aspects of agricultural sustainability have provoked interesting discussion and comment, most recently the extended response by Ed Rayburn to the article "Energetics and ecosystem integrity: The defining principles of sustainable agriculture", by Timothy Crews, Charles Mohler and Alison Power [AJAA 6(3):146-149 (1991)]. Those of you who don't regularly see AJAA may be interested to know that this is one of a many we have had on the same general theme. Others include: "Sustainability isn't enough" by Vernon Ruttan [3:(2-3):128-130 (1988)] "What is alternative agriculture?" by Pierre Crosson [4(1):28-32 (1989)] "What is alternative agriculture?" by J. Patrick Madden [4(1):32-34 (1989)] "Integrating social, environmental, and economic issues in sustainable agriculture" by Patricia Allen, Debra Van Dusen, Jackelyn Lundy, and Stephen Gliessman [6(1):34-39 (1991)] (This article has received discussion on SANET already) "Assessing the character of agricultural production systems: Issues and implications" by Sandra S. Batie and Daniel B. Taylor [6(4):184-187 1991)] "Some ideas and guidelines for research on ecological agriculture" by Joachim Raupp [9(1-2):84-87 (1994)] The last of these appeared in a double issue devoted primarily to papers from the Conference on Science and Sustainability, organized by Washington State University in 1993. Many of these were concerned with specific projects that in one way or another reflect the more general issues discussed in the papers listed above. It seems, as Koheleth the Preacher might have said: "Of making many papers on sustainable agriculture there is no end." But judging by the continuing discussion here, I don't know whether SANET-ers would accept his conclusion: "Much study is weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter." William Lockeretz