There’s no doubt that the world’s population is increasing, significantly. And because of this, human necessities and resources for these necessities are increasing in number also. This leads us to the connection between a growing population vs. the agricultural industry. With more people needing to be fed, the agricultural industry is high in demands, but it also needs to maintain its environmental biodiversity.
The drive for increased agricultural production and profit has relied on a limited number of high-yielding crop varieties and animal breeds. The result is industrial agriculture, which is defined as a modern form of capital intensive farming in which the machinery and purchased are substituted for the labor of human beings and animals. This seems like a useful way to result with more food resources for humans to eat. We can get a lot more work done faster by using machines to do our work for us. Industrial agriculture has been under controversy because according to many agriculturists, its benefits can't outweigh its costs. Industrial agriculture has brought in cheap agricultural products. Not to mention the environmental costs of industrial agriculture which is simply huge. Besides pollution and soil destruction, it also consumes large amounts of water, energy and chemicals. Most industrial agricultural farms are monocultural. This means that they only produce one type of crop, simply because it is easier to maintain. Monoculture crops are often hybrid varieties of a traditional species. The improved variety produces more, so the farmer doesn’t bother planting the older variety and it slowly disappears. Also, farmers on traditional farms tended to grow a wide variety of crops and often raised livestock as well. With the advent of monoculture farming, traditional farming practices were largely abandoned. Many crop varieties and animal breeds have often simply disappeared. This disappearance is known as “extinction”, and it’s final.
On the other hand, sustainable agriculture is both a philosophy and a system of farming. It involves design and management procedures that work with natural processes to conserve all resources and minimize waste and environmental damage, while maintaining or improving farm profitability. In practice such systems have tended to reduce or avoid the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives.
Basically, fewer genetic resources mean fewer opportunities for growth and innovation in agriculture. And growth and innovation are exactly what we need if agricultural production is going to keep up with population growth. Losing biodiversity doesn’t just limit our opportunities for growth; it puts our food supply in jeopardy. Agriculture becomes less able to adapt to environmental changes, such as global warming or the appearance of new pests and diseases. If our food supply can’t evolve, then we’re in deep trouble. The next step now is to plan how to achieve a solution for a brighter and greener future. Balance is the main factor in this case, as seen in the clip below:
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References:
References:
"Biodiversity." Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 24/11/2010. Web. 30 Dec 2010.
<http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1186577581900&lang=eng>
<http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1186577581900&lang=eng>
“Biodiversity.” What FAO Does. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. 2010. Web. 30 Dec 2010.
Southgate, Douglas. “Population Growth, Increases in Agricultural Production and Trends in Food Prices.” EJSD. 2007. Web. 30 Dec 2010.
Feenstra, Gail. “What is Sustainable Agriculture?” UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Web. 30 Dec 2010.
MacRae, Rod. “Definition of the term “Sustainable Agriculture.” Egological Agriculture Projects. Web. 30 Dec 2010.
“Industrial Agriculture.” Economy Watch. Web. 30 Dec 2010.
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