As mentioned in a previous blog post, industrial farming can be very harmful. That being said, there are various alternatives to industrial farming that are much better for the environment, such as agroecology, agroforestry, and intercropping.

First, agroecology is a better alternative to industrial farming, because it is a farming approach that mimics the natural ecosystems. It is an alternative method, which uses fewer resources, but produces more food. This is very beneficial for the environment. This is not a new technique. In fact, farmers in Africa have used it to double crop yield within 3-10 years of implementing it. This is proof that it works and is helpful. Some of agroecology’s additional benefits are that it can be used to improve soil fertility, adapt to climate change, and reduce the cost of farming. This is so important, because not only is it an alternative to industrial farming, but it is sustainable.

In addition, agroforestry is also a better alternative. It involves incorporating the cultivation and conservation of trees. Not only is the total output from the farms greater, but crops are also protected from the destructive effects of the wind and weather. By planting more plants and trees, it increases financial diversity and flexibility of farms. Instead of separating crops and animals, they are combined to make one single unit of a large farm. Trees, crops, and animals can all be put together, instead of being spread out, using more space. A major benefit of agroforestry is that it is productive, yet naturally fertilizes the crops instead of adding harmful fertilizers.

Lastly, intercropping is a more beneficial alternative to industrial farming. Intercropping is when crops are grown beside different plans between the rows. In other words, crops are side by side. The benefits to this are more biodiversity and maximizing growing space. There are three types of intercropping, which include mixed cropping, row cropping, and temporal intercropping. Mixed cropping involves planting compatible plants next to each other, while row cropping has different plants. Temporal is planting fast growing crops next to slow growing crops. 

All of these methods are better, more sustainable methods of farming.

References

Conrad, A. (2013, april 23 ). the guardian. Retrieved from The benefits of alternative farming methods :  https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/apr/23/farming-methods-agroecology-permaculture

Grah, R. (2015, September 12). afta web. Retrieved from What is Agroforestry? : https://www.aftaweb.org/about/what-is-agroforestry.html

https://www.maximumyield.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from Intercropping: https://www.maximumyield.com/definition/1653/intercropping

What is industrial farming?

Monoculture, which is the process of growing a single crop on a large scale, is the center of industrial farming. For monoculture farming to be successful, it relies heavily on the use of fertilizers and chemicals such as pesticides. Fertilizers are necessary to replenish the nutrients in the heavily taxed soil of a monoculture, as the use of only a single type of plant depletes the soil of the plants specific nutrient needs. Pesticides are required in this process, due to the fact that a large crop of a single type of plant is susceptible to certain weeds and insect pests. Much of the crop produced in this monoculture process is grain that is used to feed livestock in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO). These CAFO’s are a type of industrial farming in themselves.

Why is industrial farming unsustainable?

When industrial farming was developed after World War II, it was hailed as a technological triumph that would feed the world’s population. Around the same time, the use of pesticides was growing and released to the public, as if it were a miracle cure for everything. Of course, this was before the causes and effects of pesticides were realized. As a result, the broad scale use of these chemicals quickly became a danger to the population. Workers applying insecticides, such as organic phosphorus in fields, orchards, and vineyards, were extremely likely to suffer from poisoning that caused paralysis and death. DDT is a popular insecticide that is applied minimally and periodically to the soil. Although these applications are seemingly moderate, concentrations of DDT build up in the soil overtime. The crop that is grown in this soil holds these trace amounts of DDT, and when eaten, tend to build up in an animal or a human’s system as well and can lead to many unpleasant health problems. In addition, the application of these chemicals also leaves a residue on foods. While this may seem minute, it can actually build up in the system over time and create toxic effects. The insecticides used contaminate water, soil, food, and are indifferent to the creatures it targets, whether they are beneficial or considered a bother by the human hand applying it. Industrial farming erodes the soil by leaching its nutrients, leads to degradation by destruction of grasslands, and harms sensitive wildlife while giving an evolutionary advantage to organisms that are less desirable. Of course, this is just a short list of the harmful impacts of industrial farming. In the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, the use of chemicals and the effects of industrial farming are described in great detail, which is very educational and eye opening.