Over the last few weeks, we have explored the largely
damaging impacts of industrial agriculture, characterised by the exploitation
of resources, large-scale single specie regimes, and high consumption of fossil
fuels, pesticides and fertilisers. The destruction of this farming
methodology is undeniable, from the emissions, pollution and deforestation of
the livestock industry to the water depletion, desertification and toxic
chemicals produced by crop production. This cannot go on indefinitely.
But what can we do? Surely there are no other options?
Wrong! Sustainable agriculture is an alternative which, in
its various practices, involves fulfilling present and future demands of food,
water, health and ecosystem demands, whilst maximising societal benefits and environmental
well-being. These systems typically focus on conserving resources, utilising
natural ecosystem relationships between animals and plants, preserving
biodiversity, reducing chemical inputs and incorporating renewable forms of
energy. Additionally, sustainable agriculture tends to bring the consumer
closer to the producer by decreasing the size of farms, distance travelled and
emphasis on economic gains (that inevitably push hidden costs onto society),
and in the long term sustaining healthy soil, land, communities and ecosystems.
What makes this type of agricultural more beneficial? In a
world where resources and economic expansion are limited, we need to move away
from our desire to drive profits, and push toward a more secure
future. Sustainable agriculture tends to rely on small-scale, independent and
local farms, which generate local employment, local spending and boost average incomes. Unsurprisingly, agribusinesses and farming industries are
shown to do the opposite, with the core aim to turn high yields and profits at
the expense of farmers, communities and the environment. These big businesses
can actually be highly inefficient/ For example, despite rice farmers in Japan,
Korea and Taiwan using more than 50% of all insecticides sprayed on rice
globally, they yield only 2% of the Earth’s crops.
So, if sustainable agriculture benefits consumers, producers
and the environment, why aren’t we doing it? Maybe the techniques used are hard
to achieve? Wrong again! Here are some examples of the typical methods used by sustainable farmers:
- Rotation of two or more crops – to reduce pests, increase biodiversity and soil fertility
- Improved soil management – by decreasing chemical inputs, and increasing organic material suitable for helpful bacteria and fungi
- Maintaining topsoil – by reducing the use of heavy machinery on the soil, this is known as tillage
- Allowing animals to graze rotationally – by relocating animals to different fields to improve soil quality, restore vegetation, and reduce high-protein feed, need for manure management and costs.
- Nitrogen management – by decreasing use of high-protein feeds, fertilisers and pesticides, farmers can effectively monitor nutrient content in soil and prevent contamination of waterways and air quality.
I don't know about you guys, but this was always my idea of how normal farms operated (until discovering the reality and widespread existence of factory farms), and I ascertain that that is how they should be! So, what do we need to do to push for more of these systems?!
- Raise awareness of the importance and social benefits of sustainable agriculture
- Campaign for climate and social justice in the agricultural sector
- Make sensible dietary choices that eliminate industrial means, i.e. opt for local, seasonal and organic produce
- Put press on industrial farms by holding them accountable!
- Reduce animal products, particularly from caged animals
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