Farming in ways that benefit the environment has become a means for value-added agriculture, generating a better financial reward and at the same time protecting the future viability and success of sustainable farmers. This paper breaks down the two main categories for environmental value-added agriculture - upstream and downstream.

Upstream is defined as payments to farmers in exchange for using specific environmental protection practices and market incentive tools. Downstream is defined as incentives such as consumers supporting beneficial farming practices by their market choices, participating in CSA's, and organic certification and similar labeling initiatives.