Authored by Tahani Nsouli
Vitality of Agriculture
Agriculture is the science, art, and practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. Agriculture is pivotal for the health and wellbeing of farming communities, as well as for the economic stability and food security of a region. However, the agricultural industry faces several threats that may affect its productivity and sustainability, such as climate change, urbanization, food adulteration and chemical contamination.
Main Threats to Agriculture:
1-Climate Change: Global Warming
Global warming, the climate crisis, is increasingly contributing to the frequency of natural disasters from drought, flooding, shifting seasons to insect infestations and other symptoms of a warming planet, all widely affecting agriculture.
Agriculture’s dependence on land, water, and other natural resources is what makes it sensitive to weather and climate. The effects of climate change on agriculture will depend on the rate and severity of the change, as well as the degree to which farmers and ranchers can adapt. These natural disasters limit food production’s quality, quantity, accessibility and availability, forming an endless cycle which results in food supply disruptions leading to the collapse of food systems’ stability.
2-Urbanization
Urbanization refers to the process through which cities grow, and higher and higher percentages of the population come to live in the city.
According to Agdaily, 23 hectares of productive land is being consumed every minute. By 2050, it is expected for more than 60% of the world’s population, the new majority, to reside in urban centers. As cities grow, they bolt down land for resources, housing and infrastructure, frequently burying productive farmland underfoot. Regional ecosystems are overburdened, losing the capability to accommodate the footprint of urban megalopolises. Moreover, urbanization contributes with agricultural labor loss; the heavy migration from rural to urban areas reduces the agricultural labor force, leading to immoderate agricultural labor input and a decrease in the quality and efficiency of work.
3-Food adulteration and chemical contamination
Food adulteration refers to the intentional addition of harmful substances to food products, or the substitution of ingredients with cheaper alternatives, while chemical contamination refers to the unintentional presence of substances in food that are not supposed to be there. Adulteration is economically motivated, while contamination can occur due to natural causes or lapses in quality control.
Food adulteration and chemical contamination hold endless consequences on agriculture. Food adulteration can lead to reduced crop field since adulterated seeds may not germinate properly resulting in poor crop growth and productivity. Chemical contamination can lead to crop contamination and soil degradation, affecting crop’s quality, fertility and safety. Moreover, contaminated water bodies and soil can harm the ecosystem, contributing to environmental pollution and leaving long-term effects on biodiversity.
Our role
Agriculture faces several threats impacting environmental sustainability, food production and human health. Factors such as climate change, urbanization, food adulteration and chemical contamination raise difficulties to agricultural systems worldwide. Working towards responsible usage of resources, strict regulations and sustainable farming practices pushes us a step forward towards ensuring food safety and security. By prioritizing the sustainability of agriculture we can diminish these threats ensuring a prosperous future for our global food systems.
Works Cited
1. The art and science of agriculture. Education. (n.d.). https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/the-art-and-science-of-agriculture/
2. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/agriculture-and-natural-events-and-disasters
3. Urbanization. Education. (n.d.-b). https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/urbanization/
4. Reporters, A., & Reporters, A. (n.d.). Your source for Agriculture News, trends & farming videos. AGDAILY. https://www.agdaily.com/
5. Zhao, X., Yang, J., Chen, H., Zhang, X., & Xi, Y. (2023, May 24). The effect of urbanization on agricultural eco-efficiency and Mediation Analysis. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1199446/full
6. Lipp, A. M. (2016, February 9). A closer look at chemical contamination. Food Safety RSS. https://www.food-safety.com/articles/3759-a-closer-look-at-chemical-contamination
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