What is a major impact of industrial agriculture on the environment?

Industrial agriculture often relies on intensive farming practices, including the heavy use of machinery, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, which significantly contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions. This occurs for several reasons:

Firstly, the production and use of synthetic fertilizers release nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Additionally, the fossil fuels consumed in the operation of agricultural machinery and transportation of food products contribute to carbon dioxide emissions.

Moreover, industrial agriculture frequently involves land-use changes such as deforestation and the draining of wetlands, both of which release stored carbon into the atmosphere. As a result, the cumulative effect of these practices leads to a marked increase in greenhouse gas emissions, making them a major environmental concern associated with industrial agriculture.

In contrast, practices that would result in decreased soil erosion, increased biodiversity, or improved water conservation are often more closely aligned with sustainable agriculture, which emphasizes environmental stewardship and resource conservation.