Agriculture and food systems

eutrophication

over-enrichment of water with nitrogen and phosphorus, causing algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and death of aquatic organisms.

monocultures issues

low genetic diversity leads to high pest vulnerability which therefore leads to a high pesticide use and more chemicals in the crops.

agriculture

— is the number one user of freshwater because its irrigation requires massive water inputs, especially for livestock feed crops.

polyculture benefits

higher resilience, biodiversity, and long-term productivity.

Why are plant based diets more sustainable?

Eating higher on the food chain is inefficient; plant-based diets require far less land and water.

Biodiversity loss

Agriculture is the number one cause of ———————— as a result of habitat conversion, monocultures, pesticides, fertilizers, and water diversion which destroy species and ecosystems.

Nitrous oxide

— is a greenhouse gas emitted heavily by fertilizers.

Green revolution

Has two main downsides which include the loss of crop diversity, increased pesticide use, soil degradation, and fossil-fuel dependency.

soil salinization

Salt buildup from irrigation water that kills crops.

soil erosion in agriculture

Tilling, overgrazing, monocultures, loss of plant cover

bioaccumulation

Toxins increasing in concentration up the food chain.

Cattle production

High methane emissions, land use, and water consumption are all environmental issues with ——————.

Carbon dioxide

high ——— reduced nutritional value of crops because it allows plants to grow faster but dilutes their mineral and protein content.

agricultural runoff

—————— is especially dangerous to freshwater ecosystems because it causes low dilution in rivers./lakes and amplifies nutrient and toxic impacts

Integrated pest management

Using ecological methods to control pests (predators, crop rotation, habitat manipulation) rather than heavy chemical inputs.

Grass (lawns)

The number one irrigated crop by acreage in the U.S.

decline

Agriculture is the number one cause of ———- to aquatic ecosystems.

60%

— of fixed nitrogen in the biosphere was fixed by humans.

3 million tons

Globally —————- of pesticides are produced yearly.

nerve, carcinogens

Pesticides produce ——— toxins, hormone disruptors, —————

60-70%

————— of food products in retail stores contain GMOs

GMO effects

loss of crop and seed diversity

True

T/F: Natural nutrient cycling “closing the loop” (e.g. organic compost) is a good example of eco-friendly agriculture

Solutions

Eco-friendly agriculture, polycultures, intercropping/multicropping, compost: nutrient cycling, cover crops: nutrients and soil protection, crop rotation: soil and resource conservation, no tillage agriculture: soil conservation, companion planting: attract beneficial insects, add diversity, natural pest control, biological pest control, buffer strops: aquatic ecosystem protection, heirloom varieties of open-pollinated crops, perennial crops, organic certification, agroforestry, and many more.

Agroforestry

—- is agriculture incorporating cultivation and conservation of trees, and agriculture or grazing under tree/forest canopy.