Industrial vs. Sustainable Agriculture

In recent decades, we have seen the tremendous growth of the agricultural industry. Farms are now able to produce crops and livestock in extremeley efficient amounts of time due to the improvement in technology. This method has come to be known as industrial agriculture. In this form of farming, human labour is substituted by machinery for quick results. The number of animals confined to one area is usually much bigger than that of a regular farm because the goal of industrial farming is to recieve more benefits for less labour. Large amounts of water, fossil fuels, and pesticides are needed for this type of farming also. Industrial agriculture can be fast and benefit farmers but it can also put a great deal of stress on the environment. At the end of the day, there are usually more cons than pros when dealing with industrial agriculture.

Overcrowded cows on an industrial farm

Industrial agriculture uses vasts amounts of water, fossil fuels and topsoil at rapid rates, making it very unsustainable. These practices are generaly responsible for many environmental problems including topsoil erosion, soil depletion, and reduction of diversity  Industrial agriculture has also been named one of the leading factors of water pollution in the United States. The majority of the water pollution from these types of farms is the result of the wrongful storage of animal waste. Waste tank or "lagoons" are able to hold millions of gallons of manure and urine . Although this is the easiest method for collecting waste, the consequences of collecting incorrectly can be horrible. These lagoons are prone to leakage, and storms can cause them to errupt easily. Raw manure can be up to 160 times more toxic than municipal waste, and so the effects can be devestating on waterways. Harmful bacteria are able to find their way into water supplies which we need to use everyday.



Harmful "lagoons" holding livestock waste

Industrial agriculture not only harms humans, but the animals involved in the procedures as well. Livestock, mainly cows, pigs, and chickens, are concentrated in unreasonably small areas. These areas are usually filthy and so animals are more susceptible to common diseases such as mad cow. In most cases, farmers are more concerned with how much weight their livestock gain rather than their overall health. Artificial health methods are usually distributed to maintain the health of the animals.

Vast amounts of pigs cramped in cages

If one were to look at the pros and cons of industrial agriculture and compare the two, the cons would most defintley be victorious. Yet, we still rely on this harmful type of agriculture when we are able to use other options such as sustainable agriculture, to help both our environment and the animals that are being put under unneccasry stress for our greed.

Sustainable agriculture is healthy for both animals and consumers, benefits farmers, and respects animals and doesn't harm the environment. What is taken out of the environment is put back in through conservation and preservation . Resources such as water and soil can be replenished for the use of future generations. Sustainable agriculture also uses less pesticides and less chemicals. To not use sustainable agricultural methods would be a slap in the face, because compared to industrial agriculture, there are no disadvantages. This method of farming  can be the new normal for all developed countries, and this can end up benefiting the entire world.

The dream of the future!

References:

http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/comparison/

http://www.acresusa.com/toolbox/reprints/Indust%20vs%20sustain_dec03.pdf

http://scienceblogs.com/worldsfair/2009/05/industrial_agriculture_v_susta.php

http://www.indigodev.com/Susagr.html

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.02110445

http://www.economywatch.com/agriculture/types/industrial.html

Blogs I commented on:

1) http://maeisdabomb.blogspot.com/
2)http://bioblog-erica.blogspot.com/