The scope and scale of industrial farming has being growing rapidly. Right from the misuse of land and animals to the exploitation of various natural resources, this form of agriculture has the bad reputation for being a massively unsustainable practice of the modern era. The increasing demand for meeting the food requirements of people across the globe in a cheap manner has triggered this condition. It has done more damages than good by triggering greenhouse emissions. The increased use of artificial fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides has added to the woes. Here is a brief look to the negative impacts of industrial farming on the environment.
The Darker Side of Industrial Farming
1. Major Cause of Air Pollution
Studies suggest that the methane emitted as a by-product of this method of agriculture contributes to 37% of the global emission rate. Adding up the woes come from the exaggerated emission of carbon dioxide that is released due to the increased use of various pesticides and chemicals as well as fossil fuels. Studies also reveal that factory farming pollutes the air by releasing compounds such as ammonia that has devastating impacts on human health.
2. Contributes To Water Pollution
Studies suggest that industrial farming requires more than 70% of the global fresh water, but it contributes to more than 75% of the water pollution issues. Lakes are becoming toxic and the whole ecosystem is getting affected. The massive cesspools where farms store animal waste leak into the waterways located near to them, leaking harmful chemicals such as nitrates, powerful bacteria, and microbes. These, in turn, trigger the growth of toxic algae which takes the life of fish. The nitrates trigger the outbreak of various diseases, the drugs for which are yet to be discovered.
3. Clearing Out The Forests
Forests are being cleared to make space for the crops and grow livestock. When there is a major depletion of forests, especially the rainforests, the entire water cycle gets affected. This, in turn, paves way for an increase in global warming. The rapid changes in the weather cycle also sows the seeds for various dreaded epidemics. The increasing carbon emission that trigger global warming negatively impacts the life of people and other living beings. An increase in global warming leads to acid rains.
4. They Cause Emissions From Carbon And Fossil Fuels
Crops that are grown under agricultural farming rely heavily of various artificially manufactured pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides for their growth. These synthetic products used are absorbed by the animal feeds produced from these crops. In short, the animals end up eating various petrochemical products, which transfer to human beings when they eat meat.
The fossil fuels used by these farming industries are worth to be noted. The farming land in the United States alone are reported to consumer more than 2,300 gallons every year! So, think about the annual usage and their impact on environment….
5. They Harm The Soil
Agricultural farming resorts to the use various synthetic fertilizers and insecticides so as to guard the crops from being destructed by the nature and pests. However, the regular use of these man made chemicals deplete the fertility and quality of soil. In the process, it gradually leads to soil erosion and other such dangerous conditions. When your soil is not strong enough, there will be an increase in the number of landslides and floods. In short, the environment loses its natural balance.
There is no way you can stop the entire agricultural farming industry, but there are certain ways you could slow down the damages it renders on your environment.
- Stop eating meat. You do not need meat to reap in proteins. There are numerous other sources for protein include a variety of lentils and eggs. If you feel it is tough to stop eating, cutting down the intake of meat could also help in saving the environment.
- Grow organic vegetables. It could be a little time consuming process, but it does help in shielding the water, soil, and air from various potent chemicals.
Industrial farming seems to doing more harm than good. What is your opinion?