Green Jobs and Policy Measures for a Sustainable Agriculture

This paper explores the green agriculture as a pivotal issue in the 21st century and assigns it a key role in fostering social development and sustainability. In fact, a more sustainable agriculture makes food security possible, particularly in developing countries. This study follows the following structure. The first paragraph investigates the issues and the opportunities connected to today's global agriculture sector, including forestry and fisheries. In this context we will see the potential underlying sustainable agriculture in creating green jobs, and special emphasis will be devoted to the analysis of green farming practices. This includes the rehabilitation of degraded crop and the role played by pasture land in improving agro-ecological farming practices. In the second paragraph, special emphasis will be devoted to the analysis of green farming practices. This means: a) the introduction of technologies that mechanize farming operations so that agricultural productivity will significantly increase; b) improvements of transport infrastructures and facilities in reducing post harvest losses; c) the certification and branding for a sustainable production. The third paragraph focuses on the policy measures that are needed to put in place a sustainable agriculture. In fact, for this to happen it is necessary that governments, particularly in developing countries, pay attention to programs for environmental conservation and rehabilitation and to the creation of green jobs. The policy options analyzed for intervention in this sector include both financial and regulatory measures, such as subsidies, taxes, public R&D, international assistance and regulated standards, as well as marketing processes (e.g., eco-labeling and certification programs).