farming and food s contribution to sustainable development the current situation future prospects a introduction summary page 1 over last 50 years wide range of underlying economic social trends have profoundly shifted which makes three pillars environmental these shifts in turn nature focus public policy concerns arise sectors 2 relation sustainability ago issues were shaped by importance households budgets potentially unstable political framework for international trade agriculture as sector economy particularly depressed rural areas balance constrained fixed exchange rates 3 changes fifty reduced role diminished significance today key relate with competitiveness farm incomes relating significant costs present policies cap impose on rest