Washington, May 17 : In a new book, experts have explained why grassland should be a permanent component of our ecosystem for ensuring the future of sustainable agriculture.

Titled, `Grassland: Quietness and Strength for a New American Agriculture', the book was written to increase awareness of the vital role grass and grassland plants have in ensuring a sustainable future for American agriculture.

Published by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, the book's content is geared toward agriculturists, students, the public, and policy makers.

The book stresses the importance of developing sustainable agriculture in order to maintain the capacity of our planet to sustain life, and to explain that humans are capable of diminishing this capacity.

Aiming to inspire and educate, the book's three main sections highlight the voices of grassland advocates through history, examine the many functions of grassland today, and look at the benefits grass-based agriculture can provide when grass is treated as an essential resource.

The first section, "Past Is Prologue", tracks the history of grassland farming, emphasizing some of the philosophical arguments that advocate for grasslands as a vital component of an evolving American society.

The second section, "The Present: Transitions over 60 Years," aims to provide the reader the foundation needed to move into the future, including updated information on cropping systems that include perennial grasses and legumes.

The third section, "The Forward Look: Opportunities and Challenges," looks at the role of grass-based agriculture in maintaining the stability of rural communities, including the human health benefits when grasses and legumes are made a primary resource in the food chain. (ANI)