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Sustainable agriculture is at the center of the Rainforest Alliance’s efforts to conserve ecosystems by protecting healthy soils, rivers and wildlife and by promoting dignified living conditions for farm workers and neighboring rural communities. The unbridled and unsustainable growth of the agriculture industry in recent years has encouraged rampant deforestation and careless agrochemical use. Today agriculture is the number one cause of ecosystem destruction and species loss worldwide. Agriculture occupies approximately one third of the Earth’s total landscape and uses more land and freshwater than any other human activity in the world. Agriculture’s impact goes well beyond the environment. As a major employer, the industry affects social, economic and cultural conditions as well. Because of agriculture’s widespread influence, the Rainforest Alliance works directly with those who use the land, primarily farmers, to promote economically viable, environmentally sound and socially equitable agriculture. Sustainable farms have minimal environmental footprints, are good neighbors to human and wild communities and are integral pieces of regional conservation initiatives. Agriculture Program MissionThe mission of the sustainable agriculture program is to integrate productive agriculture, biodiversity conservation and human development. Farmers, companies, cooperatives and landowners who participate in our programs meet comprehensive, rigorous social and environmental standards. The Rainforest Alliance provides farmers with incentives to meet our standards, and encourages companies and consumers to support the farms making improvements toward sustainability.
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