How Modern,
Sustainable Agriculture Is Working Toward a Greener Future
Agriculture has an enormous impact on the environment. And with the world’s population on the rise, we need to produce more food than ever before. By 2050, we’ll need about 50 percent more food than we currently produce.
Agriculture is
changing in ways that will reduce the environmental impact of producing more
food while helping create a greener future. Specifically, it’s changing the way
it provides food and works to change the way we live and interact with our
environment.
Renewable energy
Farms require energy.
Many people in the agriculture industry are switching to renewable energy which lessens their impact on the
environment while creating jobs.
Wind energy could create 80,000 new jobs and $1.2
billion in revenue for
farmers and rural landowners by 2020. And that’s only one renewable energy
source. Agriculture is also investing in solar, biomass and more.
Farms also produce
renewable energy by growing corn for making ethanol. Native grasses and
fast-growing trees are now rising in popularity for use as a fuel because
they’re cheap and easy to grow.
Water conservation
Farmers are innovating
lots of new ways to use less water. Drip irrigation, a method that supplies
water closer to a plant’s roots, reduces evaporation and can use up to 80 percent less water
than traditional irrigation.
Farms also reduce
water use by carefully planning the timing of watering. Monitoring the weather
and soil moisture helps protect against overwatering. Watering at times when
there’s less sunlight reduces water lost due to evaporation.
Some farms also create
their own ponds for capturing rainwater that they then use on their crops.
These ponds can also become important habitats for wildlife.
Soil conservation
More and more farmers
are practicing conservation
agriculture, a set of soil
management methods that preserve the soil’s natural structure, composition, and
biodiversity.
To help protect soil,
farmers maintain soil covers either by planting a cover crop or using excess
from a previous crop. They also till the soil as little as possible to avoid
disturbing its structure and composition. Rotating crops helps to protect soil
as well.
Protecting soil helps
to reduce erosion, keeps the soil healthy and reduces the need for water.
Using recycled products
Farmers are
repurposing, recycling and reusing a wide variety of products, which reduces
their environmental impact and keeps trash out of landfills. Many farmers recycle
and reuse items such as bale wrap, scrap metal and bulk bags used for feeds,
grains and fertilizers instead of throwing them away.
“Reconditioned bulk
bags are made from woven polypropylene, which is a highly sought after
recyclable material,” says Brett Roeder, Vice President and Sales &
Solution Specialist at Bulk Bag Reclamation, a company that reconditions, sells and buys
bulk bags. “Because of this, recycling outlets are easier to find compared
to boxes made from high-density polyethylene.”
Many agricultural
workers also make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of goods they use on
their properties in order to reduce their impact.
The way we eat
Farmers are promoting
more environmentally friendly food habits through changing the way we eat and
reducing our impact on the environment.
Eating local and
seasonal food reduces emissions associated with transportation, as well as the
resources needed to grow and preserve the goods.
When farmers sell
local and seasonal produce at farmer’s market and similar events, they are
encouraging the purchase and consumption of more eco-conscious goods.
Agriculture has the
potential to either have a large negative impact on the environment or to lead
the charge in treating it better. Many farmers are taking measures to reduce
their environmental impact and create a greener future for everyone to enjoy.
Bobbi Peterson loves writing
and regularly posts on her blog Living Life Green. She’s also a freelance writer, green living
advocate and environmentalist. You can find more from Bobbi on Twitter.