I believe that sustainability is both a dream and a reality; it can be achieved if there is a clear roadmap, otherwise it remains a fantasy. I am invited to give a public lecture on the roadmap to sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) in the context of WLE and the SDGs on September 18 at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana, to mark the signing off of the SDGs, which is planned for the next week (25-27 Sep. 2015). Some of the Pros for SAI include the need for mitigating social and ecological disasters attributed to a pure intensification of agriculture (the case of a typical Green Revolution, GR). Another reason is that businesses have learned how to incorporate the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in their management systems in order to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability. Thus, some farmers have learned to do so under facilitation of NGOs. That is why “the active involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)” is acknowledged as having “helped to expand the agricultural R&D agenda on natural resources management (NRM) and sustainable agriculture, the problems of Less-Favoured Areas (LFAs) and poor farmers, and more participatory research approaches…” . Besides scientists, businesses and NGOs, the political world is still pushing on "solving global issues by global solutions". Hence, ‘Sustainable Agricultural Intensification” has become a major concern of global agendas such the UNCED and Agenda 21, UNCSS, MDGs, SDGs, and several high level panel discussions. These global initiatives have shaped our mind toward sustainability by providing huge, wide and ambitious goals for tackling poverty, reducing inequality, combating climate change, and protecting ecosystems . They are ambitious but not mere childish fantasies. The MDGs and SDGs for instance provide a true roadmap for achieving sustainability. But as infinite as the time is, our battle for sustainability will never end; it will be a sustained effort toward ensuring adequate goods and services in a healthy environment and equitable society to the next generations.
I believe that sustainability is both a dream and a reality; it can be achieved if there is a clear roadmap, otherwise it remains a fantasy. I am invited to give a public lecture on the roadmap to sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) in the context of WLE and the SDGs on September 18 at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana, to mark the signing off of the SDGs, which is planned for the next week (25-27 Sep. 2015). Some of the Pros for SAI include the need for mitigating social and ecological disasters attributed to a pure intensification of agriculture (the case of a typical Green Revolution, GR). Another reason is that businesses have learned how to incorporate the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in their management systems in order to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability. Thus, some farmers have learned to do so under facilitation of NGOs. That is why “the active involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)” is acknowledged as having “helped to expand the agricultural R&D agenda on natural resources management (NRM) and sustainable agriculture, the problems of Less-Favoured Areas (LFAs) and poor farmers, and more participatory research approaches…” . Besides scientists, businesses and NGOs, the political world is still pushing on "solving global issues by global solutions". Hence, ‘Sustainable Agricultural Intensification” has become a major concern of global agendas such the UNCED and Agenda 21, UNCSS, MDGs, SDGs, and several high level panel discussions. These global initiatives have shaped our mind toward sustainability by providing huge, wide and ambitious goals for tackling poverty, reducing inequality, combating climate change, and protecting ecosystems . They are ambitious but not mere childish fantasies. The MDGs and SDGs for instance provide a true roadmap for achieving sustainability. But as infinite as the time is, our battle for sustainability will never end; it will be a sustained effort toward ensuring adequate goods and services in a healthy environment and equitable society to the next generations.