Food security and environment

1. Food Security and Environment
-Priyanka Chakraborty
IIT Kharagpur
1st Year LL.B

2. Introduction
Farming, agricultural and fishery products form a major part of
the cultural identity of India’s people and regions.
India has a great diversity in terms of natural environments,
climates, fishing and farming practices.

3. Indian agriculture since 1947
Before mid-1960s India relied on imports and food aid to meet
domestic requirements.
 However, two years of severe drought in 1965 and 1966
convinced India to reform its agricultural policy.
This ushered in India's Green Revolution.
The state of Punjab led India's Green Revolution and earned
the distinction of being the country's bread basket

4. India’s Agricultural growth
In the past agriculture has played and will continue to play a
dominant role in the growth of Indian economy in the
foreseeable future.
It represents the largest sector producing around 28% of the
GDP.
It is the largest employer providing more than 60% of the
jobs and is the prime arbiter of living standards for 70% of
India’s population living in the rural areas

5. Contd…
Indian agriculture, which grew at the rate of about 1% per
annum during the 50 years before Independence, has grown at
the rate of about 2.6%per annum in the post-Independence era.
 India currently occupies third position in the world, after China
and USA, in terms of fertilizer production and consumption

6. Agriculture’s impact on the environment
At the global level, agriculture contributes to climate change
through emission of greenhouse gases and reduction of carbon
storage in vegetation and soil.
Locally, agriculture reduces biodiversity and affects natural
habitats through land conversion, eutrophication, pesticide
inputs, irrigation and drainage.
Unsustainable agricultural practices also lead to direct
environmental feed-backs such as soil erosion and loss of
pollinators (because of excessive pesticide application).

7. Monocropping and its effects
Monocropping is the agricultural practice of growing a single crop
year after year on the same land.
While economically a very efficient system, allowing for
specialization in crop production, it can damage the soil increasing
crop vulnerability to opportunistic insects, plants, and
microorganisms.
Wheat, corn and soyabean are three common crops often grown
using monocropping techniques.

9. Contd…
Soil depletion is a negative effect of mono-cropping.
Farmers are forced to use chemical fertilizers to encourage plant
growth and fruit production.
Monocropping also creates the spread of pests and diseases,
which must be treated with yet more chemicals.
Under certain circumstances monocropping can also lead
to deforestation.

10. Genetically Modified Crops
In India, experiments have been carried out and GM crops like th
e Golden Rice (which is rich in proteins) have been used.
 GM crops may lead to a monoculture and devastate the biodive
rsity that maybe like a self serving bio weapon on a target nation.
India is the third largest producer of cotton
after China and the U.S.

11. India, gave the conditional clearance to Monsanto and Mahyco
for commercial planting of the genetically engineered Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt.) cotton in four states of southern and central
India in 2002.
First few months the crop grew fast, but unfortunately,
in the fourth month, the Bt cotton stopped growing and produci
ng new buds. There was also bursting of
immature bolls and heavy infestation of bollworm.
Contd…

12. In the state of Andhra Pradesh 79% of the crop was lost.
In Madhya Pradesh 100% of the crop was lost. In Maharastra,
the Bt crop has failed across 30,000 hec. In Gujarat,
it was completely destroyed by the bollworm.
Subsequently, about 200 farmers committed suicide.
 The Bt. cotton failure has cost the farming industry a total
loss of Rs. 1128 million or twenty million euro in 105000 acre
s across the country in one cropping season.
Contd…

13. In studies carried out,
it has been demonstrated that GM crops transfer their
genes to soil fungi and bacteria.
The affected fungi and bacteria then
behave in abnormal ways and diminish their function
in breaking
down organic material, which makes nutrients available to
plants.
Contd…

14. The soil will become progressively less fertile. After a few seas
ons of planting the GM crop the soil will not be
able to host any other conventional crop.
A major factor in
agriculture is the availability of water. Bt cotton consumes much
more water than nonBt hybrids do.
 The high cost of GMO seeds, extensive use of herbecides and
great reduction in crop value have often times left farmers
bankrupt.
Contd…

16. The unresolved plight of Indian farmers
Farmers use genetically modify crops for one of several reasons:
to increase resistance to certain viruses or toxins, to increase
pesticide resistance and to increase resistance to certain
powerful herbicides.
But the harmful effects are:-
 Harm to Other Organisms
 Cross Contamination
 Increased Resistance to Pesticides
 Allergenic Effects

17. Element Areas of concern
Raw materials Agriculture accounts for a big part of the environmental impact
along the food chain. It impacts on water, air quality, climate, soil
and bio-diversity.
Raw material and waste
management
Using materials as efficiently as possible and to reduce waste.
Reuse, recycling and recovery.
Energy and climate
change
Reducing the energy used in the food and drink industry will help
to reduce impact on climate change.
Water Water is used extensively in agriculture, manufacturing and
processing. The industry are exploring ways to reduce water use.
Packaging Reducing packaging without affecting quality, safety, and
consumer needs. Effective recycling.
Transport /distribution Reducing transportation – fewer and friendlier miles.
Consumers Energy used for shopping by car, food storage and preparation.
Food waste.

18. Food security act,2013 was passed which guarantees 5 kg of
food grains per person per month. It also sought a direction to
authorities that affected families be also given pulses and edible
oils.
Recently in 2016, a PIL was filed saying Gujarat is among the
states which are yet to implement the Act.
The PIL, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, had alleged
that the Centre and states “have been highly negligent in
performing their obligations, causing enormous damage to the
lives of the people due to their inaction, which is in
contravention of the rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 14
of the Constitution of India”.

19. Challenges for the global food system:
 Balancing future demand and supply sustainably
 Ensuring there is adequate stability in food supplies
 Achieving global access to food and ending hunger (food
security for all)
 Managing the contribution of the food system to the
mitigation of climate change
 Maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services while
feeding the world.

20. Thank You