Agriculture and the Environment - Irreconcilable Differences?

Mazhar M. Chinoy

Since the last many years, the battle has been heating up between intensive agriculturists and
environmentalists. Agriculturists are accused of infiltrating grasslands and tearing down rainforests,
damaging ecosystems, polluting soil and water resources due flagrant nutrient and pesticide use, causing
losses to biodiversity. Although aggressive agricultural practices, moreso in developed countries have
impacted the environment, farmers around the world have consistently adopted techniques to grow high-
yield crops and restrict input losses to reduce any major negative effects. But will the future be as
fulfilling?

Consider the scenario. The human population of this world currently stands at a staggering 6.5 million. In
the next 50 years, it is expected to near 10 billion. With higher degrees of economic development
expected to progress in most countries where populations are huge, the average human being will be
wealthier. Higher up the food chain now, people will have richer diets. The relative increase in food
demand will far exceed the proportional increase in population as people consume more meat and dairy
products. At an estimate, nearly 80% increase in global grain production will be required to cater to a
40% increase in population to feed the animals, in turn to feed the humans of this planet

The biggest question plaguing planners for Earth’s food security therefore is from where and how will
this food grain requirement be met. Globally, little land is available to grow more. Urbanization and
industrial development have eaten into arable land. Other spare lands have the environmental card placed
against them - poor soils and ill-favoured climate have put such areas out of intensive contention.
Rainforests, grassy savannas and wetlands are too indispensable to Earth and its habitants to be rooted out

All of this increase has then to come from existing land through optimising yields by improving crop and
soil management practices and remove constraints to plant growth. Some ways to do this...

A major constraint to plant growth is irregular water resource. To stave off drought-like situations, river
systems and groundwater resources have to be fully exploited. Wherever feasible, dams will be critical for
this. Water preservation techniques will need to be mastered. Equitable water distribution for intensive
agriculture versus increasing urban requirements will have to be assured.

Genetic engineering and development of crops will need to be in full gear for strength against nutrient
deficiencies, pest attacks, weeds, water pollution and other diseases. Gallant, progressive investments in
research and extension programs will have to be in place to jump-start the effort to reduce yield losses by
preventing such anomalies in all crop cycles.

Most critical to the effort will be the fertiliser connection. While organic fertilisers will be important in
providing crop nutrient needs, their supply is both inadequate and inelastic, with little scope for increase
over the years. Not many people can argue the fact that the progressive and balanced use of inorganic
chemical fertilisers will take the pivotal slot in assuring intensive crop agriculture on existing croplands
so as to avoid beligerent intrusions into rainforests and grasslands. This will be the key ingredient to
respond to any food security dilemmas of the future as well as preserving existing ecosystems around the
world.
The challenge to feed 10 billion people is great but not insurmountable. Maintaining global food security
while preserving Earth’s ecosystems has to be the undeniable joint mandate of both agriculturists and
environmentalists. It is time to forge an alliance to see the job through.