美國到2002年已驚覺農企業化的問題，朝永續農業發展

蘇少儀

Because of its unique geography, weather, history and policies, the United States has an agriculture that has been dominated by production of commodity crops for use in animal, industrial and export enterprises. Over time agricultural policies evolved to supported an industrialized commodity based agriculture, with the result that farmers left the land and agriculture moved to an industrial structure.
This restructured agriculture was aided and abetted by many factors. Technology rapidly changed the way land was farmed, leading to less need for labor but also leading to lower returns to farmers because of increased costs and lower prices from the resulting greater production. Farm policies consistently rewarded production over conservation. Continued expansion of row crop agriculture resulted in less land in resource conserving crops, loss of biodiversity, increased water pollution, soil erosion and other environmental damages including major pollution flows to the Gulf of Mexico. While an agriculture that harms its own resource base would appear to be unsustainable, it continued to be promoted by policies that provided major returns to input suppliers and land values but not to the farmer. Global trade issues have emerged to keep prices low.
The 2002 farm bill could mark the beginning of a major change in direction for U. S. agricultural policy. While it continued to support crops through commodity subsidies, many conservation and environmental provisions were included that will, if funded, lower pollution, enhance the landscape, and
support small farmers. The new Conservation Security Program promises to financially reward farms for the environmental benefits they provide, and if successful could become the model for a national green payment program. There is hope that it is not too late to turn agriculture into a green, sustainable industry.

http://www.mnproject.org/pdf/A%20New%20Agriculture%20Policy%20for%20the%20U.S.%20by%20Dennis%20Keeney%20%20Lo..pdf