Agro-ecology is a growing field of research and practice that focuses on how to best use ecological principles to grow food. It also looks at how to best use natural systems and diversity in crops and soil to make the most of what you have.
Agro-ecology can be applied at any scale, from a small garden to a large farm or even a nation. Many different kinds of people practice agro-ecology, including farmers of all races and income levels, students, community leaders, and more.
The biggest percentage of the world’s people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, but this isn’t always because they choose to. In many cases, it’s because they have no other choice. Agriculture can be a source of wealth for people, but it can also be a source of vulnerability.
There are many ways that climate change will affect agriculture, from damaging crops to destroying entire farms due to weather events like floods or hurricanes.
Organic agriculture
The largest percentage of the world’s population practices organic agriculture. According to the World Population Status page of the World Population Foundation, there were over seven billion people in late 2017.
That year, the average family size was four people, and nearly two billion people lived in rural areas. Of those two billion people, almost all of them practice organic agriculture.
It is a misleading statement to say that most people rely solely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides for food production, because almost nobody does this. Only some of the wealthiest and most advanced countries do this, and even then it is not practiced by the entire population.
Many developing countries have soil that is depleted of nutrients due to lack of fertilizer use or poor farming practices. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies in crops unless corrective measures are taken.
Factory farming
Although some view factory farming as the most efficient way to produce food, many condemn it for a number of reasons.
Some complaints include the unnatural way in which animals are raised and fattened, the excessive use of antibiotics in feed, and the unsanitary conditions in which the animals are raised and slaughtered.
Additionally, many people object to the types of animals that are raised and slaughtered for food. Some say that there should be laws against raising certain types of animals due to their religious or cultural beliefs.
Because of these concerns, many people are switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet. While this may seem like a dramatic change, it may be more sustainable than you think. You can still get all of the necessary nutrients on a vegetarian or vegan diet, although you may need to plan a little bit more specifically.
Sustainable agriculture
The most popular type of agriculture practiced by the world’s people is sustainable agriculture. Approximately 95% of the world’s population depends on crops and farm animals for their daily nutrition.
Sustainable agriculture refers to farming practices that help conserve and maintain the natural resources that define a farming system. These include soil, water, biodiversity, and financial viability.
Soil conservation includes practices such as no-till practices, using cover crops, and rotating crops. Water conservation includes irrigation systems that conserve water, such as drip systems or berms to prevent runoff.
Biodiversity is maintained by creating habitats for insects, birds, and other small creatures within the farm. Financial viability is maintained by selling products directly to consumers to ensure quality rather than mass production at low cost.
These are all important components of sustainable agriculture that help ensure the future of food by preserving natural resources.
Conservation farming
A growing movement in agriculture is conservation farming. This includes practices such as no-till farming and rotational crop cultivation that promote soil health.
No-till farming involves leaving the soil intact as much as possible when cultivating crops. This excludes the use of machines that till the soil, whether by plowing or scraping the ground.
Rotational crop cultivation involves planting different types of plants in different places at different times. This helps sustain biodiversity and prevents overgrowth of any one plant type.
Both of these practices contribute to agricultural sustainability by reducing soil erosion and dependence on pesticides. Conservation farming is becoming more popular as awareness of the impacts of agriculture grows.
Nearly one billion people around the world depend on agriculture exclusively for their income, according to the World Bank.
Green farming
A large percentage of the world’s population relies on green agriculture, also known as eco-agriculture. This refers to farming practices that focus on environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Environmental sustainability focuses on how crops are grown. This includes whether or not pesticides are used, how soil is managed, and whether land is reclaimed after cultivation.
Social sustainability looks at how communities are involved in the growing and selling of crops. How are profits distributed? Who else helps grow and sell the crops?
Economic sustainability looks at the cost-effective nature of green agriculture. How much does it cost to produce one crop? How many crops can be produced per year? How much can they be sold for? These questions are answered to ensure profitability for the farm and those involved in the production and sale of the crops.
These aspects of green agriculture help prevent disasters such as droughts or floods from completely devastating a region due to a reliance on one type of crop or production method.
Hydroponic farming
A unique type of agriculture is practiced by a small but growing percentage of the world’s population. This type is known as hydroponic farming, a method of growing plants without soil.
All the necessary nutrients are supplied in liquid form, hence the name “hydro.” These nutrients are obtained from chemical solutions, like those found in fruits and vegetables.
How is this done? Plants are grown in water instead of soil and are provided with adequate oxygen through an irrigation system that supplies water constantly. This system can be automatic or hand-activated depending on the farmer.
The advantages of hydroponic farming include higher crop yields, less soil contamination, and shorter growth periods for plants. On the other hand, there is a big investment in resources needed to start the farm. Also, pests can be a problem since there is no soil for them to burrow in.
Pastoralism
Pastoralism, also known as pastoralist or nomadic agriculture, refers to an economic system in which the population depends on the cultivation and domestication of animals for their livelihood.
This can take the form of herdsmen moving with their livestock through various grasslands and forests, or settled farming villages where most of the agricultural output comes from animal sources.
Pastoralists are often involved in some sort of circular migration pattern along with their livestock. This can be dictated by season, availability of resources, or conflict.
Although pastoralism is not very productive in terms of global food supplies, it is a very sustainable economic system. The reliance on animal husbandry means that there is little need for extensive land area to cultivate crops or raise livestock.
There are some environmental concerns regarding pastoralism due to the nomadic nature and overgrazing by animals. To address these issues, there are initiatives to promote less-intensive grazing methods.
Urban gardening
Urban gardening refers to the practice of growing vegetables, fruits, and/or herbs in urban areas. This can be in people’s gardens or community gardens, on rooftops or in vacant lots, and even on window sills.
Many people around the world devote their time to urban gardening, including in the United States. Gardens like these can bring communities together while also providing food for those who grow the vegetables and/or herbs.
The number of people currently involved in urban agriculture is estimated at around 1 billion. This makes up roughly half of the global population, showing just how many people rely on this type of agriculture.
Many people choose to farm urban agriculture due to a desire to return to simpler living and because of the availability of resources such as land and water.
