Sustainability aspects of the grain sector

Abstract

The present study tries to answer questions and uncertainties related to economic, social, and environmental sustainability in the grain sector. We take the view that the notion of sustainability can be defined on a case-by-case basis. In our case, grain production will provide the context of this concept. In respect to economic sustainability, the following question will be analyzed: Can a given sector be economically efficient and competitive in the long-run? As regards the environmental dimension, new environmentally friendly cultivation techniques can support the sector to develop in a sustainable way. In the long-run, nature will decide what is sustainable and what is not. We actually believe that from the social dimension sustainability should mean keeping consumption at a constant level. This kind of approach is particularly important from the point of view of the grain sector, since this sector produces significant amount of direct and indirect ingredients for food. We consider it important to highlight the aforementioned standpoint, because the world population is continuously growing, while the amount of cultivated area in the grain sector has not indicated significant changes over the past few years. Without increasing yields, serious reduction may occur in long-term per capita production of the grain sector. This means that current consumption level will not be sustainable in medium-term. Over a longer period it may even influence the consumption level of other food products. Keywords: grain sector, sustainability, competitiveness, production, consumption level