Wedoany.com Report on Mar 9th, Global agriculture is facing pressure to transform, with environmental issues stemming from industrialized models becoming increasingly prominent. The golden age of agriculture typically refers to the era of small-scale farming in the late 19th century, when practices like crop rotation maintained soil health. However, starting from the early 20th century, the widespread adoption of mechanization, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, while boosting yields, also led to the degradation of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and increased pollution.
Currently, large-scale agriculture incurs approximately $3 trillion in environmental costs annually. Its over-reliance on chemical inputs also threatens food security. Wildlife habitats are being encroached upon at a rate nearly four times faster than forests, and the excessive use of pesticides harms ecosystems and human health. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop resilient food systems that rely on local resources.
Smallholder farms account for 72% of global farms but use only 8% of agricultural land, whereas large farms, making up 1% of farms, utilize 65% of the land. Local agricultural land is considered a valuable asset, and enhancing its value requires efficient supply-demand matching and specialized services. Frank Carini of ecoRI News points out: "Producing more local food requires a series of changes." He suggests halting the removal of farmland from production, providing financial support, and attracting young farmers, among other measures.
The Economist Impact's Resilient Food Systems Index indicates that food system resilience is based on strategies involving policy, technology, and finance, but these need to be integrated to have a lasting effect. Key actions include establishing diverse agricultural partnerships, investing in infrastructure such as cold chain networks, and translating sustainable research into climate-adaptive policies.
Georgia Collins writes in Sustainability Magazine: "The vulnerability of how we produce and distribute food has never been more apparent." Data shows that 13.2% of food is lost before reaching retail, and 19% is wasted in households, with climate resilience being a major constraint. The rise of the Slow Food movement highlights the advantages of local food systems in ensuring food security, driving agriculture towards a more sustainable future.
