WE HAVE seen the word everywhere. Sustainability, in its many forms, is at the nation's farmers' markets, and at our supermarkets and chain stores; it's discussed on the bestseller list, and in the consumer media. Sustainability, carbon footprint, food miles — in recent years, these have all become household terms. As the industry seeks to define what is sustainable agriculture and what is not, the viability and success of a national sustainable agriculture standard is up for debate. Unlike certified organic production, which is arguably easier to define, a comprehensive definition of the term "sustainability"' must be very flexible, because the term often means different things to different people, says Russell Williams, director of regulatory relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
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