Environmental sustainability is a major concern for many entering agriculture and agribusiness. Now, more than ever, a sense of responsibility for protecting resources and the Earth is felt across the globe.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest industry is agriculture. Agriculture consumes approximately 69% of the world’s fresh water, and the livestock sector is responsible for about 18% of greenhouse gas production. That being said, agriculture is also a crucial industry for sustaining Earth’s 7 billion residents. One of the most difficult parts of agriculture and agribusiness is developing ways to maintain a healthy balance between resource production and sustainability.
Many experts agree with and share this philosophy: Environmental sustainability means that modern-day needs must be met, but they must be met without compromising the future generation’s ability to meet their own needs.
Common Environmental Concerns in Agriculture
While there are many environmental concerns in agriculture, there are a few overarching issues that have been an area of concern for years. Some of these include:
- Degradation of Soil: Soil health is essential to both production capability and environmental health. Soil degradation happens when the natural ecosystems in the soil are disrupted too often. When this happens, foods grown in the soil are less nutritious, plants and animals native to the area cannot thrive, and eventually, unhealthy soil becomes less fertile.
- Carbon Pollution: Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring element in the world; however, when there is an excess of carbon in the atmosphere, there can be heavy consequences. The most prominent of these is an increase in global temperatures, also called climate change. There can also be long-term effects on human health and the environment.
- Climate Change: Climate change is a side effect of carbon pollution as well as the emissions of other greenhouse gases. Climate change means that global temperatures have changed a significant amount and is beginning to impact the environment. In the modern day, the Earth is experiencing an increase in temperature worldwide; some agricultural practices, like disrupting trees and naturally occurring plants, can add to the increase in temperatures.
- Food Waste: About 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted each year, according to the WWF. Food waste is a byproduct of overproduction and poor distribution. There is often more food produced than can be consumed; this is made worse by lack of distribution to areas that are lacking food. Many worry that wasting resources and overconsuming now will contribute to a lack of resources in the future.
- Ecosystem Erasure: Many agricultural practices involve disrupting the natural flow of that area of land. While that is often unavoidable, being aware of how natural habitats and ecosystems are affected can bring significant benefits. On a larger scale, climate change and pollution can negatively impact ecosystems and the plants and animals who live there.
Environmentally Safe Practices
No matter how daunting these concerns may seem, there are ways to combat them. It is important to remember that there is probably not one perfect solution to every environmental concern, and it will take time to see results. However, being aware of the issues and seeking to fix what is in your power to fix can create a positive environmental impact.
Many professionals in the agriculture and agribusiness fields encourage finding a balance between environmentally safe practices and practicality. An ideal solution would be one that helps the environment and is financially sustainable for businesses. Some ideas for how to address environmental concerns in agriculture include:
- Regenerative Agriculture: Regenerative agriculture is the process of strengthening soils through less harmful farming methods. Limiting use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizer, and soil disruption can restore soil to a healthier state and draw more nutrients into plants.
- No-till Practices: Tilling soil is a traditional way of farming; it may work for a little while, but after time, it destroys soil's health. Tilling can also add to carbon pollution due to the disruption of carbon dioxide stored naturally in the soil. By not tilling, pollution and degradation can be reduced.
- Environmental Scientists: Working closely with environmental scientists and programs can help your business know their environmental impact and how to lessen it. Having an environmental scientist can also benefit production and field health.
- Know Your Resources: There are many partnerships, private and federal funding options, and sponsorship programs available to agriculture businesses who want to be environmentally sustainable. There are also classes and retreats for businesses to learn how to apply safe principles to their own production.
- Compromise: Not everyone will be on board with environmentally sustainable changes. It may be out of budget or a hassle for those working with livestock or produce. Coming up with ways to compromise can create change without causing contention in the workplace.
Conclusion
Preserving the Earth’s resources is a team effort. If learning environmentally safe agribusiness practices interests you, check out BYU-Idaho's Agricultural Economics (AGBUS 210) and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ECON 357). Together, students can create a more environmentally sustainable future.
Sources:
How Can You See Soil Health? – Noble Research Institute
What Is Carbon Pollution? Causes, Effects and Risks - ScienceInsights
What is Environmental Sustainability? | SNHU
What is Regenerative Agriculture? – Noble Research Institute
Sustainable Agriculture: A Global Conservation Frontier | WWF
Why Land Use Matters for Climate Action | WWF
WWF's Sustainable Food Initiatives | WWF
What Are Ecosystem Processes, and Why Do They Matter on the Ranch? – Noble Research Institute
Sustainability | American Farm Bureau Federation
WWF Climate | Clean Energy and Adaptation | WWF