Agriculture & Climate Change
The way we produce our food does affect the environment and the climate. The climate in return affects our ability to produce food and threatens global food security. It is extremely crucial that we understand this relationship and re-visit our current agricultural practices.
The agriculture sector in most countries of the world contributes significantly to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Forests, wetlands, and native grasslands that can store large amounts of carbon are generally cleared to make way for agricultural land. Livestock and the use of agrochemicals are aspects of this industry that contribute to environmental change through invasive plant growth, methane release, soil erosion, pollution, and water contamination.
Agriculture and food production is crucial for human health and the global economy. That is why we need to re-visit our agricultural practices to make them smarter and more sustainable. This way, we are securing not only our health but that of the environment in which we live and depend on.
Sustainable agriculture is a heavy term and can be challenging to wrap your head around. It generally refers to agricultural practices that are mindful of their effects on the environment. Sustainable agriculture improves the profits of farmers while instilling a sense of land stewardship, all while improving the quality of life the farmer lives. Every person involved in the food system — growers, food processors, distributors, retailers, consumers, and waste managers — can play a role in ensuring a sustainable agricultural system.
Climate-Smart Agriculture on the other hand, while not separate from sustainable agriculture, is a practice that combines sustainable methods with measures that increase the resilience of farmers while minimizing the contribution to the change itself. The idea behind such a system is to increase productivity while ensuring food security in the face of climate change impacts such as natural disasters and pandemics.
“We have to change how we produce and consume food, not just for environmental reasons, but because this is an existential issue for humans.
”
— Janet Ranganathan, Vice-President for Science and Research at the World Resources Institute (WRI)
Here are a few resources you can use to teach kids about agriculture and climate change:
A Guide to Global Climate Change
World’s Largest Lesson
