Disadvantages of modern farming techniques.

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Disadvantages of modern farming techniques

Task:

My task is to write as an environmentalist complaining about modern farming techniques and their damaging effects on the environment.

As an environmentalist - it is my concern that modern farming techniques are harming the environment in serious and irreversible ways.

I particularly would like to comment on the issue of Eutrophication. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with in a serious and unprovocative manner. Eutrophication [concerning the contamination of nearby rivers and streams from the nitrate rich fertilizer] basically means that although a substance which is very good for unnatural fast growth in plants is released into the rivers, it also means that too much of this 'good thing' can cause far more damaging effects in other parts of the food web.

The problem starts when too much of the rich fertiliser finds its way into rivers or streams. This can occur if too much of the fertiliser is applied on the farmland or it rains soon after the fertiliser is applied so that the fertiliser runs off and into the rivers/streams. The excess nitrate washes into the river causing rapid growth of plants and