To many people, the modern agriculture increased productivity and as a result has reduced the land used in farming. The enhanced use of farming mechanisms meant that the need for human and animal labour has greatly decreased. This in turn helped reduce food costs and the necessity to develop additional land in which to feed the working animals on. Furthermore, the cutback on land is due to irrigation. Without irrigating the land, it is said that at least 1.3 billion acres of land would be needed to make up for the lost production. Pest control systems also increased productivity. An estimated 70% of the world’s produce might be lost in the lack of pesticides, whereas with pest controls only 40% is lost4. Moreover, fertilisers have boosted crop yields meetings demands of the world’s population.
On the other hand, some people would believe that the modern agriculture has brought various environmental problems. One of these problems involves the use of fertilisers. The nutrients in these fertilisers are capable of entering rivers and lakes which then promote excessive escalation of the algae population in the area5. As a result, the variety of other species decreases, the turbidity or the cloudiness of the water increases and the rate of the sedimentation of the lake/river intensifies which shortens its lifespan6. Additionally, modern agriculture uses farming machines, diminishing human and animal labour. Consequently, the use of these technologies amplifies the society’s dependence on fossil fuel, thus increasing the greenhouse gas accumulation, air pollution and acidification.
In conclusion, I believe that even though the modern agriculture causes some environmental problems, it has provided food to the world’s population. Without the changes in technologies and different techniques in farming, the yields produced would not be able to meet the demand of the people. However, modern agriculture has brought serious problems and I believe that these conflicts with the environmental conservation. These problems would potentially affect the environment in the long-term such as global warming.
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[5] Boyle, M., and Senior, K. (2002) Collins Advanced Science: Biology (2nd ed.) HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
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