Intensive Farming:
Intensive farming, also known as intensive agriculture is a agricultural cultivation system developed to increase food production. This agricultural activities is characterized by high capital inputs, labour, machinery and inevitably chemicals and fertilizers. Fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste and fungicides permeate water supplies through runoff, and increases the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that ultimately reach the ocean.
The need for increased food production is below in Figure 15:
The need for increased food production is below in Figure 15:
Figure: U.S. Census Bureau. (2011). international Data Base World Population1950-2050. http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/worldpopgraph.php.
Last accessed 10th Mar 2014.
Figure 15 is a line graph illustrating the world population growth and projected
growth in the coming years till 2050. From the graph, we can see that the
population is increasing exponentially- the population of 3 billion in 1959 and
since risen to over 6 billion in the late 1990s. The projection of the future
population implies that population is expected to reach 8 billion by mid 2040s.
Last accessed 10th Mar 2014.
Figure 15 is a line graph illustrating the world population growth and projected
growth in the coming years till 2050. From the graph, we can see that the
population is increasing exponentially- the population of 3 billion in 1959 and
since risen to over 6 billion in the late 1990s. The projection of the future
population implies that population is expected to reach 8 billion by mid 2040s.
Intensive farming is the biggest contributor to dead zone growth in the past decade and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Intensive farming techniques have improved over the years, with new ones introduced as a result of industrialization.
Some of these techniques are the ones shown below:
Intensive farming techniques have improved over the years, with new ones introduced as a result of industrialization.
Some of these techniques are the ones shown below:
Factory Farming:
This type of farming is widespread in developed countries due to the high production from it. Factory farming includes confining livestock including poultry, cattle and fish in confinement at high stocking density. These animals are kept in extremely cramped spaces so they are deprived of exercise, this allows them to use all of their body's energy on producing flesh, eggs or milk for human consumption. Furthermore, they are fed drugs which fatten them faster and render them immune to certain conditions that would otherwise kill them or genetically modified to produce more food for us than natural means.
This type of farming is widespread in developed countries due to the high production from it. Factory farming includes confining livestock including poultry, cattle and fish in confinement at high stocking density. These animals are kept in extremely cramped spaces so they are deprived of exercise, this allows them to use all of their body's energy on producing flesh, eggs or milk for human consumption. Furthermore, they are fed drugs which fatten them faster and render them immune to certain conditions that would otherwise kill them or genetically modified to produce more food for us than natural means.
Aquaculture:
According to the FAO(food and agriculture organisation), aquaculture "is understood to mean the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants in all types of water environments including rivers, ponds, lakes, and the ocean. There are two main types of aquaculture: marine aquaculture and freshwater aquaculture.
Marine aquaculture: refers to the breeding of organisms that live in the ocean.
Freshwater aquaculture: refers to the culturing of species that are native to streams, lakes and rivers.
The two diagrams below show the harmful impacts of aquaculture: Figure 16 and 17:
Pew Trusts. (2006). Aquaculture: The Environmental Impact. Available: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2006/03/aquaculture-environmental-impact. Last accessed 15th Mar 2014.
Jason Selwyn. (2013). Aquaculture: Predator Resistant Cages.Available: http://www.speakupforblue.com/ocean-solutions/predator-resistant-aquaculture. Last accessed 15th Mar 2014.
According to the FAO(food and agriculture organisation), aquaculture "is understood to mean the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants in all types of water environments including rivers, ponds, lakes, and the ocean. There are two main types of aquaculture: marine aquaculture and freshwater aquaculture.
Marine aquaculture: refers to the breeding of organisms that live in the ocean.
Freshwater aquaculture: refers to the culturing of species that are native to streams, lakes and rivers.
The two diagrams below show the harmful impacts of aquaculture: Figure 16 and 17:
Pew Trusts. (2006). Aquaculture: The Environmental Impact. Available: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2006/03/aquaculture-environmental-impact. Last accessed 15th Mar 2014.
Jason Selwyn. (2013). Aquaculture: Predator Resistant Cages.Available: http://www.speakupforblue.com/ocean-solutions/predator-resistant-aquaculture. Last accessed 15th Mar 2014.
Sustainable Agriculture:
Sustainable Agricultural Initiative defines sustainable agriculture as the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products, in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species." Sustainable agriculture operates on the basis of 3 main goals which is demonstrated in the diagram to the left.
Diagram 18: SAI. (2010). Issues Related to the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture.Available: http://www.saiplatform.org/sustainable-agriculture/definition. Last accessed 15th Mar 2014.
Sustainable Agricultural Initiative defines sustainable agriculture as the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products, in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species." Sustainable agriculture operates on the basis of 3 main goals which is demonstrated in the diagram to the left.
Diagram 18: SAI. (2010). Issues Related to the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture.Available: http://www.saiplatform.org/sustainable-agriculture/definition. Last accessed 15th Mar 2014.
Advantages of Intensive Farming:
-high production
-farmers can easily monitor the farm without being harmed
-farm produce have becomes cheaper, thus solving worldwide hunger problems(common people can now afford a balanced diet)
-large productivity becomes available with less amount of land required
Disadvantages of Intensive Farming:
-diseases and infections are more common because of poor hygiene and overcrowding
-extensive use of pesticides on food may harm public health
-in order to create space for these farms, natural habitats are destroyed
-labour and watering inputs lead to greater environmental degradation.
-usage of chemical fertilizers can cause air pollution and water pollution
-high production
-farmers can easily monitor the farm without being harmed
-farm produce have becomes cheaper, thus solving worldwide hunger problems(common people can now afford a balanced diet)
-large productivity becomes available with less amount of land required
Disadvantages of Intensive Farming:
-diseases and infections are more common because of poor hygiene and overcrowding
-extensive use of pesticides on food may harm public health
-in order to create space for these farms, natural habitats are destroyed
-labour and watering inputs lead to greater environmental degradation.
-usage of chemical fertilizers can cause air pollution and water pollution