United Nations Environment Programmed: 10 things you should know about industrial farming 20 JUL 2020
There was a time when industrial agriculture seemed to be a panacea (remedy for all difficulties) for a fast-growing world. Synthetic (artificial or manmade) fertilizers, chemical pesticides and high-yield cereal (grain) hybrids promised to reduce hunger, accommodate growing populations and stimulate economic prosperity (success). Between 1960 and 2015 . agricultural production more than tripled, resulting in an abundance of low-cost fare and averting global food shortages.
But not everything went as anticipated. Decades of industrial farming have taken a heavy toll on the environment and raised some serious concerns about the future of food production. "Efficient farming is not just a matter of production," says James Lomax, a United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP) Program Manager. "It is also about environmental sustainability, public health and economic inclusivity:
Here are 10 things to know about industrial farming.
1. It is not quite the bargain it seems.
According to some estimates, industrialized farming-which produces greenhouse gas: emission, pollutes air and water, and destroys millime-costs the environment the equivalent of about us $\$ 3$ uillean every year.
Externalized costs, such as the funds required to punify contaminated drinking water of to treat diseases related to poor nutrition, are also unaccounted for by the industry meaning that communists and taxpayers may be picking tip the tab without even realizing it.
2. It can facilitate the spread of viruses from animals to humans.
While their genetic diversity provides animals with natural disease resistance, intensive livestock farming can produce genetic similarities within flocks and herds. This makes them more susceptible to pathogens aide when they are kept in close proximity, viruses
