Agricultural practices changed dramatically and went through a major transition as traditional farming methods were largely replaced by modern high-intensity agriculture with new technologies, mechanization, increased chemical use, specialization and government policies that favored maximizing production. Advances in crop breeding and new technologies made this possible. This highly mechanized approach to agriculture dramatically increased crop productivity, especially by the introduction of high-yielding varieties of grains, typically accompanied with the use of mechanized equipment, fossil fuel energy, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and irrigation. The agriculture practices changed, for example the high-yielding hybrids, first developed in Mexico in the 1940s, characterized an extended planting season and quicker maturation.
The Green Revolution is a prime case of such a change. Often hailed as a miracle for its immediate and remarkable results in increasing crop yields, it spread to Asia, Africa, South America, and elsewhere in the 1960s and 70s and several countries achieved record harvests of wheat, maize, and rice, and many doubled food production in a period of 30 to 40 years. World food production increased faster than the population from the 1950s through the mid 80s, when it leveled off and per capita production began to fall. In general, these increases in world food production came not from an increase in the area under cultivation, but from higher yields on existing cropland.
The methods of the Green Revolution often replaced low-impact traditional crop varieties and farming systems that had developed over hundreds of years in consonance with regional soils and climate – without absorbing the accumulated indigenous knowledge. Although these changes have had many positive effects and reduced many risks in farming, there have also been significant losses. Prominent among these are topsoil depletion, groundwater contamination, the decline of family farms, continued neglect of the living and working conditions of farm labourers, increasing costs of production, and the disintegration of economic and social conditions in rural communities. Although many assume that the environmental effects of agriculture are small compared to the effects of industry, agriculture is now the primary unregulated source of water pollution in the United States (US) and the main source of soil degradation in the world.
This modern agriculture causes soil erosion and loss of soil fertility; pollution and eutrophication of freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems; depletion and contamination of groundwater; habitat destruction; intensive energy consumption; release of greenhouse gases; and impacts from production and use of fertilizers and pesticides. Agricultural practices can disrupt natural ecosystems and their processes to the point of altering their ability to provide critical ecosystem services that are necessary not just for agriculture but to sustain life on this planet. For example, soil provides such critical ecosystem functions as regulation of air and water quality and the attenuation of wastes, essential to any terrestrial ecosystem.
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A systems perspective is essential to understand agriculture’s sustainability. The system is envisioned in its broadest sense, from the individual farm, to the local ecosystem, and to communities affected by the farming system both locally and globally. An emphasis on the system allows a larger and more thorough view of the consequences of farming practices on both human communities and the environment. A systems approach gives us the tools to explore the interconnections between farming and other aspects of our environment. A systems approach also implies interdisciplinary efforts in research and education. This requires not only the input of researchers from various disciplines, but also farmers, farm workers, ^ consumers, policymakers and others. Making the transition to sustainable agriculture is a f process. For farmers, the transition to sustainable agriculture normally requires a series of small, realistic steps. Family economics and personal goals influence how fast or how far participants can go in the transition. It is important to realize that each small decision can make a difference and contribute to advancing the entire system further on the “sustainable agriculture continuum”. The key to moving forward is the will to take the next step.
Finally, it is important to point out that reaching toward the goal of sustainable agriculture is the responsibility of all participants in the system, including farmers, labourers, policymakers, researchers, retailers, and consumers. Each group has its own part to play, its own unique contribution to make to strengthen a sustainable agriculture community.