People often have the misconception that nature can always take care of itself. But without human help, nature will find it difficult to manage on its own. Experts around the world, therefore, rely on the principles of sustainable management. In this article, we will explain what is behind the concept of sustainable management.
Sustainable management is rapidly gaining in popularity around the world, and society as a whole is beginning to perceive the importance of its principles. The emphasis on sustainability has even recently become a competitive advantage that can attract customers. In the Czech Republic, the onset of sustainable management is a bit slower, but it is still appearing more and more. For companies promoting sustainable management, it is not only the highest possible profit that is important, but also respect for the environment. In this article, we will focus on the reasons why sustainable farming is important.
Problems of modern management
The principles of the indispensability of sustainable management can be well demonstrated, for example, in the agricultural field. Modern agriculture spread rapidly in developed countries in the second half of the last century. Traditional “hand-made” production was quickly replaced by technologies aimed at obtaining the largest possible production. Growers and breeders have succeeded, but this way of farming can have very negative consequences for nature.
A typical example of inappropriate farming is the widespread cultivation of one type of crop or monoculture. Until recently, rapeseed and maize monocultures in fields or spruces in forests were gaining ground in the Czech Republic.
In the short term, such repeated plant cultivation is useful because it makes it possible to obtain a large amount of production. It is therefore also interesting economically. In the long run, however, it can harm the landscape because it impairs soil fertility, can lead to soil erosion, and reduce crop resistance to disease.
Insufficient fertilization with organic fertilizers and overuse or inappropriate combinations of pesticides are also a problem. These can be harmful to the health of animals and the people who come in contact with them, either directly or through contaminated water. The use of excessive amounts of pesticides can mean an increased burden on the soil, and this has also been much addressed by the EU recently.
In addition, agriculture is the source of a large proportion of the emissions produced, ie substances that pollute the planet’s air. Similar cases are easily found in virtually all industries. So what is the solution? Transition to sustainable management.
What is sustainable management?
Efforts to develop sustainable management and entrepreneurship have been growing since the beginning of the new millennium. Sustainable farming must not only be ecological but also socially beneficial and economically viable. Sustainable agriculture does not deplete the land or impoverish people. The main purpose of any sustainable development, in general, is that the resources used today can serve not only present but also future generations.
One of the great current trends is agroecological practices in agriculture. These methods focus on the interactions between plants, animals, soil, humans, and the environment. They include, for example, the cultivation of different types of plants in one place, long periods of crop rotation, permanent land cover, a combination of mixed cropping and breeding, and the like.
One of the main components of sustainable management is the so-called integrated crop protection and production.
Like farmers, other small and medium-sized enterprises seek to use environmentally friendly methods. The European Union has also been pushing for improvements in this area for a long time, seeking to move the European economy towards greater ecology and self-sufficiency.
Not only in agriculture but also any other field of business, companies should constantly optimize operational processes. Thanks to carefully thought-out and interconnected processes, companies can travel fewer kilometers, consume less energy and fuel, produce less waste, etc.
Promoting sustainable business
Entrepreneurs and companies are gradually coming up with ever smarter and greener ways of working. Sustainability is a great opportunity for growth and a guarantee of the long-term success of companies. Many scientific studies confirm the positive relationship between the sustainable behavior of entrepreneurs and their good financial results.
Generali Česká pojišťovna has long supported companies that work under sustainable principles. This year’s novelty is the enterprise competition, which recognizes small and medium-sized companies that behave sustainably.
Through this activity, Generali Česká pojišťovna seeks to contribute to raising awareness of the environmentally sustainable business in the Czech Republic. Competing companies can win a financial reward, but they can also effectively raise their profile and share their ideas or established practices, which can be an inspiration for other entrepreneurs.
Farmers’ insurance from Generali Česká pojišťovna
In this article, agriculture has served as a good example to demonstrate long-term sustainable management planning. However, farmers also support insurance companies within a separate insurance category. Generali Česká pojišťovna offers a wide range of various insurance, which agricultural companies can further adapt in many respects.
Compared to other areas of business, farmers can face wider risks – from bad weather to animal diseases, to damage to specialized machinery. Insurance is therefore a necessary part of their operation. However, quality insurance will ensure that every company does not run into financial problems even after sudden disasters.
