https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2325
I was reading Chapter 2. It made me think about our discussions on how industrial agriculture is affecting the environment. I wanted to find an article that looked at what is happening because of our switch to modern industrial agriculture. The article talks about how agriculture's impacting the environment and how farming practices are changing ecosystems in big ways. Using fertilizers, pesticides and heavy machinery has increased crop yields but it is also causing soil to break down polluting water and reducing the number of different plants and animals. Even the tiny life in soil that is necessary for healthy crops is being disrupted which makes it harder for farms to stay healthy in the run.
Agriculture is a part of the problem when it comes to losing biodiversity around the world. As farms get bigger and bigger and only grow one type of crop habitats are disappearing. This means ecosystems are becoming more fragile. These farming systems may seem to be working for now.. They use a lot of chemicals. Because of this they are more likely to have problems with pests, disease and changes in the climate.
These findings are very similar to what Liz Carlisle writes about in Chapter 2 of Healing Grounds. Carlisle explains that industrial agriculture is not hurting the land but also affecting rural communities. Both the article and the book show that environmental problems and social issues are closely connected. For example soil that is in shape does not just hurt ecosystems it also threatens the livelihoods of farmers.
Carlisle's work show that we need to change the way we do agriculture. We need to use regenerative practices. This can help improve the health of the soil. It can also protect biodiversity. Support farming communities for years to come. Industrial agriculture needs to change. We need to find ways to make farming more sustainable so that industrial agriculture can be good for the environment and good for people. Agriculture needs to be done in a way that's good for the environment and good, for people and this means changing the way we do agriculture.
2 comments:
I agree with your points about industrial agriculture harming soil, water, and biodiversity. It connects well to Healing Grounds and how these problems also affect farmers. It shows why changing to better, more sustainable farming methods is important for both the environment and communities in the future.
Totally agree with you on the connection between environmental and social issues. If the environment is constantly being pushed to its limits by people, it will backfire back onto people in the lower class. A lot of the harm being done is caused by larger corporations, which continue to profit from unethical business practices. The rich get to run freely while the people living in poverty are stuck with the greatest environmental issues.
Post a Comment