What are disadvantages of agriculture?

Answer 1

Disadvantages of modern agriculture

* Removal of buffers to make large fields for maximum efficiency leading to lower food costs and greater food availability to the poor. But it also limits the natural habitat of some wild creatures and can lead to soil erosion.

* Use of fertilizers can alter the Biology of rivers and lakes.[8] Some environmentalists attribute the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico as being encouraged by nitrogen fertilization of the algae bloom.

* Pesticides can kill useful insects as well as those that destroy crops.

* Generally not sustainable.

* Often results in an inferior product.

* Use of chemicals on fields creates run-off, excess runs off into rivers and lakes causing pollution.

* Animal Welfare is significantly decreased compared to organic, animals are kept in tight living conditions, over-fed and only have a small life span before being slaughtered

* Per John Jeavons of growbionintensive.org, it kills or malnourishes the fungi and bacteria that hold the soil together, resulting in loss of topsoil, so the increase in yield is only temporary, and, like a heroin addiction, demands ever-greater inputs to sustain output, and eventually destroys the productive capacity of the land.