Modern agricultural practices and technological advances have led to tremendous success in food production. Despite the success, efforts to increase the production of food have had negative and far-reaching effects on the ecosystem. The persistent decline in biodiversity is affecting food production as well as other food related services (GRiD par 8).
Biodiversity can be defined as the various forms of life on earth regarding the number, distribution and composition (species, alleles, groups, etc.) of the biota (Nair par 9). Agricultural activities have a direct and significant effect on biodiversity while the decline in biodiversity is negatively affecting food production; the two are intertwined.
Over the years, population growth has increased the need on high food production. Food producers responded by increasing farmland areas as well as increasing agricultural yields per unit area (Nair par 1). Agriculture has been recognized as one of the largest contributors to genetic erosion, species loss, and modification of natural habitats (Grid 9). Habitat modification increases the risk of species becoming extinct. Clearance of forests and grasslands for crop production, pasture, and production of biofuel has led to the decreased the proportion of natural habitats to farmlands by more than 50% (Grid par 10). According to GRiD (par 10), the modification of natural habitats endangers about 80% of mammals, birds, and plants that are threatened with extinction. It also has severe impacts on the ecosystem and the human wellbeing. Persistent agricultural intensification and expansion play a role in raising the number of endangered plants and animals particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (GRiD par 10). For instance, agricultural pollution has had a negative effect on more than 70 species of birds with serious effects on 26 of those species. This has led to a decline in farmland birds by 48% in Europe.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (par 1), clearing of natural habitats affects the soil environments and reduces the number and the variety of species in the soil. Different agricultural activities have different effects on the soil biota; sometimes the impacts are positive. A variety of soil organisms that are beneficial to agriculture are affected by biodiversity loss. These organisms include those that are associated with soil aggregation, decomposition of organic matter, and the breakdown of toxins (organic and agrochemical by-products). Other organisms include those that are responsible for nitrogen fixation and transformation of inorganic compounds such as sulphates, nitrates, and phosphates as well as essential minerals e.g. manganese and iron. Approaches to agriculture that utilize external inputs e.g. pesticides, herbicides, inorganic fertilizers and the like, have succeeded in overcoming various barriers to food production. However, intensive utilization of these inputs has resulted in environmental degradation especially soil, water, and vegetation. Chemical inputs have led to the adverse decline in soil organic matter (FAO par 4).
The negative effects of agriculture on the environment are numerous. Depletion of soil nutrients, losses in organic matter, soil erosion, and compaction, have led to the declining agricultural productivity due to poor soil quality. Soil and water resources have been polluted by fertilizer overuse and the wrong utilization or disposal of animal waste. Various animal and plant species have lost their resilience and adaptability hence a rise in the risk of extinction. There has been an increased loss in beneficial crops that are associated with positive ecosystem services like nutrient cycling, pollination, pest regulation and control of disease outbreaks (FAO par 4). Intensive land tillage and burning of natural crop cover lead to disturbances in soil physicochemical and biological composition. Unsustainable irrigation methods have resulted in a decline in water resources and soil salinization while the misuse and overuse of agrochemicals increased the prevalence of human and ecological health challenges.
Sustainable Solutions
The continuous increase in the global population calls for a rise in food production. According to Butler et al. (381), agricultural production will double by the year 2050. That being the case, agricultural practices need to be managed carefully via sustainable means failure to which the remaining natural ecosystem will be destroyed, and more species will become extinct. Sustainable development calls for a balance between biodiversity needs and increased food production. New agricultural practices need to address the deteriorating effects of crop production and animal rearing on biodiversity (Butler et al. 381).
In the past, efforts have been made to conserve soil as a natural resource. Physical measures have been put in place to remedy and prevent soil erosion as well as to provide supplementary minerals and water. However, limited efforts have been utilized to conserve soil as a dynamic and living resource. The condition of the soil is essential not only for food production but also in the ecological function and global balance. Quality and healthy soils are vital to agricultural sustainability, environmental quality as well as human, animal and plant health.
Biological soil management practices are many and diverse; the various interventions can be direct or indirect. Direct interventions alter the number and the activity of a particular species in the soil. They include the introduction of beneficial fauna e.g. earthworms or antagonistic biocontrol agents into the soil or the environment. Antagonistic biocontrol organisms are used to control pests and diseases. Another direct intervention involves the inoculation of organisms such as rhizobia, fungi, mycorrhizae into seeds or roots so as to enhance soil fertility.
Indirect interventions, on the other hand, aim at controlling biological activities in the soil through the manipulation of the factors that affect biotic processes such as microclimate, habitat, nutrients, and so on. These interventions do not target the organisms in the soil/environment. Indirect interventions include agricultural methods such as green manuring, use of organic fertilizers, and liming, cropping systems (management and design), as well as modern techniques such as genetic soil control in regards to the residue, disease resistance and rhizosphere quality (FAO 9).
Use of agroecological farming methods has been associated with healthier soil, better water conservation as well as protection of pollinators. Agroecological practices include organic farming, as well as the utilization of cropping systems such as multiple cropping and crop rotation, increases soil fertility and biodiversity, thus, high crop yields and biodiversity conservation.
Notably, incorporation of agroecological practices in food production is critical. Large farms (industrial-scale) that utilize organic farming result into fewer toxins and environmental degradation compared to conventional large-scale inorganic farmers. However, these organic farmers do not experience the rich and complex benefits of healthy soils achieved by those farmers who practice ecologically diverse agriculture.
In conclusion, adoption of agricultural practices and methods that are ecologically diverse will ensure sustainability of food production as well as the preservation of soil biodiversity. These sustainable and environment conscious methods will also result in the preservation of natural resources such as water and natural habitats for animal and plants.
Works Cited
Butler, S. J., Vickery, J. A. & Norris, K. “Farmland Biodiversity and the Footprint of Agriculture” Accessed on March 3, 2016. http://www.planta.cn/forum/files_planta/381_101.pdf
FAO. AGP- Agriculture and Soil Biodiversity. Accessed on March 3, 2016. http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/soil-biodiversity/agriculture-and-soil-biodiversity/en/
GRiD. Impacts on Biodiversity and Ecosystem from Conventional Expansion of Food Production. Accessed on March 3, 2016. http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/food-crisis/page/3569.aspx
Nair, P. K. (2014). Challenges in Agroecology and Land Use. Front. Environ. Sci., 28 January 2014
