"Sustainable agriculture" was addressed by Congress in the 1990 "Farm
Bill" [Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA),
Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603 (Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1990) NAL Call # KF1692.A31 1990].
Under that law, "the term sustainable agriculture means an integrated
system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific
application that will, over the long term:
- satisfy human food and fiber needs;
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm
resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles
and controls;
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
- enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole."
Available at GPO Access: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+7USC3103

"Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic
profitability, and social and economic equity. A variety of philosophies, policies and
practices have contributed to these goals. People in many different capacities, from
farmers to consumers, have shared this vision and contributed to it."
Read more at the Univeristy of Californina's Agriculture and Research Program page.