Editor’s Note: National Ag Day is proud to post this essay from Miles C. De La Fuente. His essay was selected by his peers to be featured on the Ag Day Blog. We value divergent opinions and recognize the hard work of all our essay contestants.
By Miles C. De La Fuente, Energy Institute High School
With a population of nine billion by the 2050, there are many
different problems that must be solved to meet the requirements of a rising
global middle-class and making a high quality of life sustainable for the
future. In order to meet the agricultural demand of the population, and protect
the environment from degradation, smarter farming techniques should be used to
make the agricultural industry sustainable in the long-term, but also increase
production.
Using more environmentally accountable farming practices that are
economically viable for all farmers to use can increase the environmental
sustainability of the industry. Practices, such as, rotating the types of crops
farmed, planting cover crops to prevent erosion and enhancing soil quality are
already popular techniques. (Farming Practices & Management, 2016) Using
these techniques, farmers can limit their effects on the environment while also
maintaining crop production. This also means, that food will be healthier and
without dangerous pesticides. In conclusion, better farming practices are the
first step to healthier food and a stable environment. This types of strategies
should continue to be employed on a wide scale and should also be adopted by
developing countries as soon as possible.
Technology also has a role to play in the use of more accountable
farming practices. For example, integrated pest management (IPM) uses
biological factors rather than relying on chemical pesticides, and genetically
modified food and cattle can increase production and decrease costs. (Key, S., Ma, J. K., & Drake, P. M., 2008)
These examples of genetic modification can solve issues in concentrated
animal feeding operations (CAFOs), making them less susceptible to disease in
cramped and overpopulated food-factories. (Natural Resources Conservation
Center, 2014) In addition, genetic modification allows for the customization of
the crops depending on the needs of the farm. In sum, genetic modification will
play a large role in the farming practices of the future and feeding 9 billion
people by 2050 and should be adopted globally to combat hunger in developing
countries across the world.
Overall, a high population coupled with the growing global
middle-class will increase the demand for cheap, healthy food; this demand can
only be met by using genetic modification in hand with environmentally
sustainable farming practices. Humanity can only achieve sustainability by
using technology and doing so with responsibility. However, there is a long
journey ahead if we are to build a world without hunger, and it begins here.
References
Key, S., Ma, J. K., & Drake, P. M. (2008, June
01). Genetically modified plants and
human
health.
Retrieved January 20, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/
R. (2016, December 24). What is Sustainable Farming and Best Sustainable Farming Practices?
Retrieved January
20, 2017, from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/sustainable-farming-practices.php
United Stated Department of Agriculture (2016,
August 22). Farm Practices &
Management.
Retrieved January
20, 2017, from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/
United States Department of Agriculture. (2014,
November 20). Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/livestock/afo/
Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d.). Sustainable Agriculture Techniques.
Retrieved January 20,
