ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AS AN INDICATION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

One of the biggest problems in the world today is an oversized consumption and use of natural resources which, in comparison with the accelerated pace of development, are too slowly restored. Therefore, the concept of a sustainable development is one of the priority objectives of global contemporary society. The sustainability of the food production system is gravely compromised due to several issues: the use of agrochemicals, loss of plant and animal biodiversity of the both wild and farmed species, and the desertification of the soil. Agricultural production is considered to be one of the most powerful pollutants. As fertile agricultural land surfaces are being reduced, the need for nourishment is increasing, as is the pressure to make use of as much land surfaces with a smaller level of fertility as possible, with an intensive treatment which at the same time endangers sustainability. An important indicator of sustainability and unsustainability is ecological footprint It shows what amount of land area is needed for the production of food, energy and other resources crucial to sustain the current, highly consumptive lifestyle. This is a quantitative measure that shows how countries, regions, cities and eve individuals create pressure thus consuming the planet and how that pressure exceeds the limits of sustainability. The aim is to determine identify possibilities of organic farming as a sustainable system. The methods that are used in the paper are: calculating the various categories of consumption of natural resources with an emphasis on non-renewable energy sources by using the calculator of the ecological footprint. A sustainable food production includes an integrated system of plant and animal ecological farming technology that will meet the long term requirement for food, improve the quality of the environment and natural resources on which the agricultural economy depends. It will also maintain the economic value of production without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Agricultural production is sustainable if it's profitable, useful for individuals, the community and if it contributes to the preservation of the environment. This implies economic, social and environmental sustainability.