Environmental impact of agriculture refers to the direct and indirect effects of agricultural production and management activities on natural ecosystems, environmental quality, and biological resources. These impacts arise from land conversion, intensive cultivation, livestock production, irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, and the management of agricultural waste [1][2]. Major environmental consequences include soil degradation, water depletion, nutrient pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, habitat loss, and reductions in biodiversity [1][3]. Agricultural activities can also alter ecosystem functions through changes in soil organic carbon, nutrient cycling, hydrological processes, and interactions among species [2][3]. The magnitude and distribution of these impacts depend on production systems, management practices, climatic conditions, and local ecological characteristics. Although agricultural intensification has increased food production, it can generate environmental trade-offs when resource use exceeds ecological limits. Understanding these impacts is essential for improving agricultural management, reducing environmental pressures, and developing production systems that maintain both biological productivity and ecosystem integrity [2][4].
- agricultural pollution
- land degradation
- greenhouse gas emissions
- biodiversity loss
- water resources
- soil degradation
- sustainable agriculture
Agricultural Development and Management • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences • Agricultural and Biological Sciences • Life Sciences
References
- Jonathan A. Foley; Navin Ramankutty; Kate A. Brauman; Emily S. Cassidy; James S. Gerber; Matt Johnston; Nathaniel D. Mueller; Christine O’cOnnell; Deepak K. Ray; Paul C. West; et al. Solutions for a cultivated planet. Nature 2011, 478, 337-342, 10.1038/nature10452.
- Bruce M. Campbell; Douglas J. Beare; Elena M. Bennett; Jason M. Hall-Spencer; John S. I. Ingram; Fernando Jaramillo; Rodomiro Ortiz; Navin Ramankutty; Jeffrey A. Sayer; Drew Shindell; et al. Agriculture production as a major driver of the Earth system exceeding planetary boundaries. Ecol. Soc. 2017, 22, 8, 10.5751/es-09595-220408.
- IPCC. Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Chapter 7: Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2022. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/chapter/chapter-7/
- Ritchie, H.; Roser, M. Environmental Impacts of Food Production. Our World in Data 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food.