environmental impacts of food production

1. Environmental Impacts ofEnvironmental Impacts of
Food ProductionFood Production

2. Industrial Food Production - ImpactsIndustrial Food Production - Impacts
 We can now make more food using less landWe can now make more food using less land
– protects biodiversity– protects biodiversity
 Modern agriculture has a greater harmfulModern agriculture has a greater harmful
environmental impact than any humanenvironmental impact than any human
activityactivity
 Future food production may be limited by soilFuture food production may be limited by soil
erosion and degradation, desertification,erosion and degradation, desertification,
irrigation water shortages, air and waterirrigation water shortages, air and water
pollution, climate change, and loss ofpollution, climate change, and loss of
biodiversitybiodiversity

3. Industrial Food Production - ImpactsIndustrial Food Production - Impacts

4. Industrialized Food Production –Industrialized Food Production –
ImpactsImpacts
 Agriculture has harmful affects on:Agriculture has harmful affects on:

BiodiversityBiodiversity

SoilSoil

WaterWater

AirAir

Human healthHuman health

5. Industrial Food Production - ImpactsIndustrial Food Production - Impacts

6. Industrialized Food Production Uses aIndustrialized Food Production Uses a
Lot of EnergyLot of Energy
 Energy needed to run machinery, fish,Energy needed to run machinery, fish,
irrigate, make pesticides and fertilizers, andirrigate, make pesticides and fertilizers, and
process and transport foodprocess and transport food
 10 units of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy10 units of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy
are needed to put 1 unit of food energy onare needed to put 1 unit of food energy on
the table –the table – including growing, storing, processing,including growing, storing, processing,
packaging, transporting refrigerating and cookingpackaging, transporting refrigerating and cooking

7. Industrialized Food Production Uses aIndustrialized Food Production Uses a
Lot of EnergyLot of Energy
 Industrialized agriculture uses about 20% ofIndustrialized agriculture uses about 20% of
all commercial energy in the U.S. and foodall commercial energy in the U.S. and food
travels an average 2,400 kilometers (1,300travels an average 2,400 kilometers (1,300
miles) from farm to platemiles) from farm to plate

8. Agriculture Contributes to Air PollutionAgriculture Contributes to Air Pollution
and Climate Changeand Climate Change
 Clearing and burning of forests for croplandsClearing and burning of forests for croplands
 Adds COAdds CO22, no longer removes CO, no longer removes CO22
 1/4 of all human-generated CO1/4 of all human-generated CO22
 Livestock contributes 18% of GHGsLivestock contributes 18% of GHGs
 Methane (CHMethane (CH44) in cow belches, manure) in cow belches, manure
 Nitrous oxide (NNitrous oxide (N22O) from fertilizers and manureO) from fertilizers and manure

9. Losses of BiodiversityLosses of Biodiversity
 Biodiversity threatened when:Biodiversity threatened when:

Forest and grasslands are replaced withForest and grasslands are replaced with
croplands – esp. tropical forestscroplands – esp. tropical forests
 AgrobiodiversityAgrobiodiversity – genetic diversity used on– genetic diversity used on
farms to produce food – 75% lost since1900farms to produce food – 75% lost since1900

Ex: India – 30,000 rice varieties, now mostly 10Ex: India – 30,000 rice varieties, now mostly 10

Ex: U.S. – 97% of food plant varieties from 1940Ex: U.S. – 97% of food plant varieties from 1940
no longer exist in large quantitiesno longer exist in large quantities
 Seed (gene) banksSeed (gene) banks preserve diversitypreserve diversity

10. THE GREEN REVOLUTION AND ITSTHE GREEN REVOLUTION AND ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
 Loss of genetic diversity to produce food –Loss of genetic diversity to produce food –
crops and livestockcrops and livestock

Might limit raw material needed for future greenMight limit raw material needed for future green
and gene revolutionsand gene revolutions

Ex: India – 30,000 rice varieties, now mostly 10Ex: India – 30,000 rice varieties, now mostly 10

Ex: U.S. – 97% of food plant varieties from 1940Ex: U.S. – 97% of food plant varieties from 1940
no longer exist in large quantitiesno longer exist in large quantities

Seed (gene) banksSeed (gene) banks preserve diversitypreserve diversity

Heirloom varieties – traditional, old cultivar, notHeirloom varieties – traditional, old cultivar, not
associated with commercial gardeningassociated with commercial gardening

11. Industrialized Food Production –Industrialized Food Production –
ImpactsImpacts
 Will examine effects of:Will examine effects of:

Farming practices on soilFarming practices on soil

GMOsGMOs

Industrialized meat productionIndustrialized meat production

Fishing and aquacultureFishing and aquaculture

PesticidesPesticides