Commercial agriculture is one of the largest global pollutants, requiring sustainable alternatives.
Crops affected by drought. Bob Nichols. CC by 2.0.
Commercial and industrial agriculture have a symbiotic relationship with climate change. While the agriculture industry is one of the largest pollutants and contributors to climate change, it is directly affected by its adverse consequences, from rising temperatures to increasingly severe weather events. This issue is complexified by the fact that agriculture is one of the most essential industries in the survival of functioning societies globally. Everyone needs to eat, and agriculture feeds billions of people worldwide.
In 2023, agriculture constituted over 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States from livestock, fertilizer and decomposition of plant matter. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, agriculture is the second-largest polluting industry worldwide, falling behind only fossil fuels. Additionally, the EPA assessed that runoff from agriculture is the leading cause of contamination for rivers and streams in the U.S. Agricultural runoff was also determined to frequently affect groundwater, the primary source of drinking water for most nations worldwide. Pollutants that stem from fertilizers, pesticides and animal manure can seep into groundwater supplies and degrade the quality of drinking water.
The push and pull of climate change’s adverse effects and the constant demand for agriculture create a complex dilemma in which farmers must prepare to defend their crops against environmental challenges while joining or fighting efforts to combat climate change. While farmers in the European Union have demonstrated the potential profitability of sustainable farming over traditional industrial agriculture, many are less inclined to adopt new processes due to higher investment, maintenance and labor costs.
As with many socioeconomic issues, farmers in less-developed nations bear the brunt of climate impacts on agriculture more than their wealthier, large-scale industrial counterparts. Oxfam investigated issues in East Africa, which has been plagued by an ongoing drought, where small farmers in Ethiopia and Somalia experienced crop failures, decreased output and livestock losses. Small-scale farmers, such as those in Ethiopia and Somalia, are responsible for over 70% of the food consumed in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuing widespread difficulties in these regions, despite being less responsible for agriculture’s impact on the climate.
Larger industrial farming industries, which claim more responsibility for the negative impacts on the environment, have the opportunity to transition to more sustainable long-term solutions. Unfortunately, many do not, due to the costs associated with these changes, despite the fact that they would likely be more beneficial for the agriculture industry in the long run. Scientists have developed varying solutions for industrial farmers, including planting cover crops and perennials to increase the long-term health and resilience of soil, which can help prevent crop loss in areas prone to flooding. Additionally, promoting biodiverse farming, focusing on local crop yields and implementing water-saving infrastructure can help slow down the environmental impact and increase the longevity of a farming region.
Although a difficult issue to navigate due to the essentiality of the sector on a global scale, there are options to reduce the harm inflicted by commercial and industrial agriculture worldwide to push for a safer, cleaner and more sustainable future.
GET INVOLVED:
There are numerous companies, organizations and nonprofits dedicated to redefining the environmental impact of agriculture. Kiss the Ground is a California-based nonprofit focused on creating educational campaigns and materials to advocate for regenerative agriculture. Regeneration International is another educational organization that sends delegates to the United Nations Climate Summit to promote sustainable agricultural alternatives. Founded by an expert scientist, the Soil Foodweb Institute helps farmers maintain health and balance in their farming soils. Grounded is based in South Africa and works with farmers and businesses to encourage biodiversity and regenerative agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
Zoe Lodge
Zoe is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying English and Politics, Philosophy, & Law. She combines her passion for writing with her love for travel, interest in combatting climate change, and concern for social justice issues.