This method of producing food has become a necessity on a planet that has rising population levels and declining resources.
The increase in the production of crops and animals has focused on better use of resources, leading to higher yields and profits. It also leads to more affordable food that is available in a greater variety.
However, intensive crop production systems raise concerns over the possibility of excessive use of fertilisers and agrochemicals, which lead to increased pollution and health issues. Intensive animal production is widely criticised for its potential contribution to air pollution and low animal welfare standards.
Intensive crop production systems
Intensive crop production relies on the use of mechanical ploughing, irrigation, fertilisers, agrochemicals such as herbicides and pesticides, as well as high-yielding varieties to increase production.
Between 1961 and 2005 global crop yields increased by 135% due to intensification and only by 27% due to the expansion of croplands. The global population increased by 111% during this time, but crop production increased by 162%. Globally, cereals and oilseeds have shown the greatest increase.
The intensification of crops has also had a positive effect on food prices, which fell by approximately 40% between 1965 and 2000. The downside is that due to the increased usage of chemical fertiliser that pollutes water, machinery that pollutes the air and land conversion that further contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the disadvantages of intensive agriculture might seem to outweigh its advantages.
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