Agriculture: Industrial, or Sustainable?

According to the United Nations, by 2050, the world population could reach 8.9 billion, or even be as high as 10.6 billion. A growing population demands more food, but it is getting ever more difficult to meet the demand.

Today, industrial agriculture is the primary method used to respond to these needs. Industrial agriculture, or industrial farming, refers to farming done for maximum income and production.

Unsurprisingly, industrial agriculture is widely used in industrialized countries. It appears to be a means for a crop to yield larger amounts of a product for a lower price. Though profit can be made through industrial agriculture, the practice is controversial, and for good reason.

One of the key issues is monoculture. Many problems arise when a single crop is planted over a wide area. Pests have a wider area to spread, and when only one crop is present, only certain pests will be present. The biodiversity of the land in which the monoculture is planted is hence severely impacted. Also, more pesticides are needed; when there is a large population of pests, they rapidly develop resistance to pesticides.

Low genetic diversity of crops is another issue. For example, for seedless grape vines to reproduce, a cutting of the original plant must be taken to grow into a new plant. Hence, seedless grape crops are genetically identical. If seedless grapes were to become vulnerable to a disease or pest, the entire population could be wiped out. A lack of genetic diversity makes plants more vulnerable.

Industrial agriculture is also harmful in other ways; it damages the surrounding environment. Runoff from fields treated with pesticides and fertilizer makes its way into lakes and rivers. Pollution from industrial machines gets into the air. Large areas planted with only one species attract only certain pests and predators, reducing the biodiversity of the surroundings.

There is a type of agriculture that can prevent this damage, however. Sustainable agriculture rejects conventional industrial methods in favour of practices with less of an environmental impact.

Instead of using pesticides, crops can be rotated to prevent populations of pests from becoming established. Different varieties of crops can be grown beside each other to reduce the concentration of pests and preserve biodiversity. Growing healthier plants can also reduce the impact of pests. Instead of using fertilizer, soil can be enriched naturally, by adding composted material, for example.

Another way to eliminate pests is by managing farms in order for them to harbour populations of natural predators. Birds, bats, spiders, and ladybugs are all organisms that hunt pests, and providing an environment beneficial to them is not only good for pest control, but also for the biodiversity of the surrounding ecosystem.

Sustainable agriculture methods are actually effective enough to meet the demand for food, with a minimal environmental impact. If we continue to pollute through industrial agriculture, both the environment and the human population will suffer. Sustainable agriculture is a means to prevent further damage, and it works.

Blogs I commented on:

Connie's blog

Dora's blog

References:

Feenstra, Gail, Chuck Ingels, and David Campbell. "What Is Sustainable Agriculture?" UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. The University of California. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm

"How Can There Be Seedless Grapes?" HowStuffWorks. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/botany/question349.htm

"Industrial Agriculture." Economy Watch. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.economywatch.com/agriculture/types/industrial.html

"Sustainable Agriculture." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/sustainable-agriculture/

"Sustainable Agriculture Techniques." Food & Agriculture. The Union of Concerned Scientists, 24 Aug. 2008. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/sustainable-agriculture.html

"World Population to 2300." United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2004. Web. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/longrange2/WorldPop2300final.pdf