The SARE program is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and is authorized under Subtitle B of Title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990.
Congress has defined sustainable agriculture (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103) as 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 agriculture 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.
Southern SARE's operating documents outline policies that ensure the program functions within the boundaries of Congressional legislation.
