By 2050, there will be an estimated 10 billion people on earth in need of nutritious food. However, as we face unprecedented times seen across supply chains in light of recent world events, climate variability, as well as the long-term damage seen from common yet damaging agriculture practices, we are now witnessing the frailties of the industrial food system through a reduction in nutrient-rich foods and long-term implications to soil and crop health.
From pesticide use to genetically modified foods and the depletion of soil microbiology and health, we are at the precipice of continuing down a method that has been proven unsustainable or pivot to harness a sustainable approach to agriculture to support a healthier ecosystem – securing nutritious food for current and future generations.
A Snapshot of Where We Are
Industrial Agriculture has resulted in degenerative practices becoming a standard component of today’s agriculture. From tilling the soil or utilising synthetic chemicals to protect against the climate, insects, disease, lack of soil moisture, or nutrient deficiency contribute to the reality of today’s industry and the growing issue of nutrient-depleted foods and damaged farmland.
Fungicides
Fungicides prevent the growth of fungi or their spores. Unfortunately, when fungicides are employed, they prevent the plant from being able to breathe and can run off into the soil and destroy beneficial fungi found in the ground. Furthermore, studies have shown fungicides produce changes in the brain that cause neurodegenerative conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
Pesticides
Pesticides aim to control pests or disease-carrying insects, seeking to protect crops. Unfortunately, pesticides have a multitude of long-term ramifications as they can wipe out beneficial insects and pollinators such as bees while leaving toxic remnants on the contaminated area for long periods. In addition to the devastating impact on insects and farmland, pesticides have been proven harmful to humans with correlations to Parkinson’s disease, cancer and other health implications.
Herbicides
Herbicides kill foliage it comes into contact with, such as weeds. Herbicides are toxic and build up in the soil, contaminating the area long after and taking decades to break down. In addition, herbicides have a myriad of health implications, such as cancers. Roundup alone, a herbicide utilising the chemical compound Glyphosate, has been correlated to Lymphoma cancer, liver and kidney damage and other long-term adverse reactions to organic cells.
Fertilisers
Fertilisers focus on adding synthetic nutrients to support crop growth. They utilise non-renewable sources to aid plant growth while significantly damaging the soil. With long-term fertiliser use, farmers can expect to see a disruption in soil pH, a reduction of beneficial soil microbes, and an increased prevalence of pests. Furthermore, chemicals such as nitrogen present from fertiliser use leach into waterways or catchments, killing fish and wildlife. Fertilisers also make their way into the atmosphere, attributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
These practices have contributed to the gradual reduction in nutrient-rich foods whilst damaging the planet.
A Sustainable Alternative
Regenerative Agriculture is a form of sustainable agriculture aiming to repair the damage we have caused to the planet through these harmful farming practices.
The Urgency for Nutritious Food
Regenerative farming supports the natural ecosystem between healthy soil, plants and nutrient-rich foods – the way nature intended. Fruits and vegetables grown decades ago were much richer in vitamins and minerals available to most today, with the main culprit being soil depletion. If food is nutrient-rich, we do not have to consume as much to meet our bodies requirements. Furthermore, nutrient-rich foods stay fresher for longer. The relentless, century-long focus on increased yield to support a growing population has reduced nutrient density. A study found one would have to eat eight oranges today to derive the same amount of Vitamin A as our grandparents would have received from one. Essential vitamins and minerals, or the lack of, play a significant role in the prevalence of disease and illness in the community on a global scale while exhausting environmental resources.
About CropBioLife
CropBioLife supports your goals in switching to regenerative farming practices.
CropBioLife is an Australian Made and Owned organic solution that supports long-term plant and soil health. It is our mission to disrupt the agriculture industry with a sustainable solution to improve plant and soil health. CropBioLife is proud to support the transition to organic and chemical-free farming across the globe for more than 20 years.