Writer: Ecrin Tekes
In recent decades, industrial agriculture has become the dominant method of food production worldwide. This method, characterized by its large-scale operations and reliance on chemical inputs, has significantly increased food production to meet the demands of a growing global population. However, this increase in productivity has come at a substantial cost to the environment. One of the most pressing concerns associated with industrial agriculture is its impact on biodiversity, which is critical for maintaining healthy ecosystems and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.
Figure 1. [Animals and biodiversity] Source: DreamsTime Stock Photos (dreamstime.com)
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth, which includes plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi (National Geographic, 2024). Biodiversity is a remarkably important component for restoring the balance of nature by maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting the interactions between species. This balance is crucial for regulating natural processes like climate control, air and water purification, and soil fertility. Beyond its role in maintaining balance, biodiversity has plenty of benefits for humans. It supports human and societal needs such as food and nutrition security, energy, the development of medicines and pharmaceuticals, and freshwater, which form the basis of good health (WHO, 2015).
Unfortunately, biodiversity is at great risk and continues to decline. Preserving biodiversity is vital for humanity. Biodiversity conservation plays a critical role not only in ecosystem health but also in combating the risk of infectious diseases. This phenomenon, known as the dilution effect, suggests that the risk of disease increases with decreasing biodiversity. However, there is some debate about the general validity of this effect. Nevertheless, there is a significant body of research suggesting that biodiversity loss can increase disease risk by affecting the structure of host communities. These findings emphasize the importance of biodiversity conservation in reducing health risks and therefore, conservation strategies in this area need to be improved (Ecology Letters, 2020).
Industrial agricultural systems cause environmental problems by over-exploiting fossil fuels, water, and topsoil. These practices create serious environmental impacts such as air and water pollution, soil erosion, and reduced biodiversity. Meat production causes huge energy losses by feeding grain to animals rather than feeding it directly to humans, making it more resource-intensive than other forms of agriculture. In addition, the high levels of animal waste and antibiotic use caused by factory-style livestock farming exacerbate environmental and health problems. Intensive pesticide use increases cancer risks among workers and consumers and is associated with health impacts such as endocrine disorders and reproductive problems. For these reasons, it is important to adopt more sustainable approaches to reduce the environmental and health impacts of current food production methods (Leo Horrigan et al., 2002).
The impacts of industrial agriculture on biodiversity can be addressed in several ways. First, large-scale monocultures and intensive chemical use threaten biodiversity by leading to the loss of natural habitats. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides pollutes soil and water resources, disrupting ecosystem health and shrinking species' habitats. Furthermore, the high energy and resource consumption of industrial agriculture leads to natural resource depletion and ecosystem degradation. Meat production leads to ecosystem changes that reduce biodiversity through large energy losses and high resource consumption. Factory-style livestock farming increases environmental and health problems, such as high animal waste and antibiotic use. These impacts illustrate the extensive and multidimensional impacts of industrial agriculture on biodiversity.
In detail, monoculture is an agricultural practice in which farmers grow only a single crop, such as wheat, maize, rice, rapeseed, sugar cane, and cotton, over large areas. This method is widely used in both traditional and industrial farming systems and increases efficiency in the planting and harvesting processes. However, continuous cultivation of the same crop in the same field can lead to increased disease pressure in the soil and depletion of certain nutrients, jeopardizing agricultural sustainability. Furthermore, monoculture practices can cause environmental degradation, particularly deforestation. One of the most important causes of soil degradation is the lack of crop rotation. Crop rotation is a method where different types of crops are planted in sequence over the years to maintain soil health and prevent nutrient loss. However monoculture, without such rotation, can lead to rapid depletion of soil nutrients, causing environmental imbalances (Serajus Salahin et al., 2019).
The global spread of monoculture has reduced the diversity of crops on cultivated land and encouraged the intensive use of agricultural land. This has negative impacts on biodiversity, as the cultivation of a single species over large areas reduces or eliminates habitat for other plant species and animals. This intensification of land used for agriculture leads to weakened local ecosystems and reduced ecological diversity. Furthermore, with the integration of biotechnology into agriculture, the widespread use of genetically modified crops on large areas of land disrupts the ecological balance by replacing native species. As a result, monoculture practices lead to reduced biodiversity at the expense of forests and other natural habitats, threatening the sustainability of ecosystems (Miguel A et al., 2009)
Conclusion:
While industrial agriculture has significantly increased food production to meet the demands of a growing global population, it has also led to severe environmental consequences, particularly the loss of biodiversity. Monoculture practices, the heavy use of chemicals, and the expansion of genetically modified crops have contributed to the degradation of ecosystems and the decline of species diversity. The reduction in biodiversity not only threatens the stability of natural ecosystems but also the long-term sustainability of agriculture itself. To ensure a more balanced and sustainable future, it is crucial to adopt agricultural practices that protect biodiversity, such as crop rotation, organic farming, and agroecology. By prioritizing ecological health, we can achieve food security without compromising the planet’s biodiversity.
References:
1. National Geographic Society. (2024, August 20). Biodiversity. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/biodiversity/
2. World Health Organization (WHO). (2015, June 3). Biodiversity and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity-and-health
3. Halliday, F. W., Rohr, J. R., & Laine, A.-L. (2020). Ecology Letters, 23(11), 1611-1622. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.13590
4. Horrigan, L., Lawrence, R. S., & Walker, P. (2002). Biodiversity loss underlies the dilution effect of biodiversity. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(5), 445-456.
5. Salahin, S., & Biswas, D. (2019). Organic food safety and practices. In Organic Food: Emerging Markets and Environmental Concerns (pp. 23-32). ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128120606000027
6. Altieri, M. A. (2009). Green deserts: Monocultures and their impacts on biodiversity. In M. S. Emanuelli, J. Jons, & S. Monsalve (Eds.), Red Sugar, Green Deserts: Latin American Report on Monocultures and Violations of the Human Rights to Adequate Food and Housing, to Water, to Land and to Territory (pp. 67-76). FIAN International.
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