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Sometimes I think we place too much emphasis on results. Results are obviously important. You want to know that you are achieving what you set out to achieve, and business is largely about results. The problem with focusing on results though, is that we do not give enough credit to the people that are engaging in processes of improvement. The ability to say that you have achieved a specific result is often limited to the things that are absolute.

Sustainability is more often about the process, than it is about achieving specific goals and then moving on to something different. There is always room for improvement, and opportunity to become more sustainable. I have been encouraged in my interactions with farmers recently in their willingness and positivity in engaging in the process of becoming more sustainable in their farming operations.

It's also about the process

Two examples from this week have been a farmer who has approached a biodiversity stewardship NGO about the possibility of implementing a biodiversity stewardship agreement on part of his farm that has areas of high value biodiversity. Another farmer reached out to the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the Department of Environment Affairs, inviting them to come and advise him on where he still needs to get in line with water and environmental regulations on his farms. Neither of these has reached a conclusion, nor is a specific result immediately in sight, but the farmers are taking the initiative to engage in processes that will improve the sustainability of their practices. I think it is important that we take the time to celebrate these stories, along with the end result success stories.

Craig Galloway
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