The agricultural sector is the largest industry in the world, with over 1 billion employed and over $1.3 trillion dollars' worth of food annually generated.
Agriculture Defined
Agriculture refers to the science and art of nurturing the soil, planting and growing crops, and raising livestock animals. It covers the preparation of animal and plant products for usage and market distribution.
The sector supplies the majority of the world's fabrics and food. Leather, wool, and cotton, among others, are all considered agricultural products. Paper and construction wood are also provided by the industry.
Agricultural Practices Can Be Detrimental to the Environment When Not Done Right
When agriculture operations are conducted and managed in a sustainable way, they can do wonders for the environment. However, unsustainable methods could lead to serious impacts on the environment and people.
For one, agriculture is a leading pollution source across various countries. Fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm chemicals may lead to the poisoning of soil, air, fresh waters, and aquatic ecosystems. In fact, several pesticides are thought to disrupt wildlife and people's hormonal systems, while the run-off of fertilizers could affect coral reefs and waterways. What's worse is that they can stay in the environment for several generations.
The industry itself also accounts for 69% of the Earth's fresh water. Unless conservation methods are implemented, production would lead to the excessive consumption of water and degradation of quality. This could affect different freshwater systems across the globe.
Not to mention, several practices, including the use of gas-powered equipment or burning fields, could contribute to the greenhouse gas buildup in the atmosphere. In fact, the livestock sector alone accounts for 18% of the total greenhouse gas production rates.
Sustainable Agricultural Practices Can Benefit the Environment
That being said, it is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices to be implemented for the sake of the environment. When practices are done right, they can help with critical habitat restoration and preservation, watershed protection, water quality improvements, and soil health boosting.
There are several facets to sustainability. Environmental sustainability, among others, refers to the proper stewardship of the natural resources or systems that a farm depends on. These cover preventing soil erosion, nurturing healthy soil, managing water, storing carbon, minimizing pollution, and boosting biodiversity.
Some sustainable agricultural practices include crop rotation, planting perennials and cover crops, tillage reduction or elimination, using integrated pest management (PMA), integrating crops and livestock, incorporating agroforestry principles and practices, and managing full landscapes and systems.
Soil and Diversity
One of the bottom lines of these sustainable practices is that they focus on the soil. Protecting farm soil can address several issues linked to industrial agriculture.
Soil that is alive and healthy would promote healthy growth of crops, hold water, hamper pollution, and ensure thriving of the farm and its communities.
Another crucial element of these sustainable practices is that they exhibit diversification. In an agricultural context, the most productive and sustainable systems are more complex and diverse.
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