Can farming affect biodiversity?
Some industrial farms
mass-produce a few select breeds
in their quest to produce more meat, milk or eggs. This practice, however, leads to a decline in livestock diversity. The same principle applies to crops
. As the number of varieties
decreases, existing crops become increasingly at risk to destruction by disease and pests. If crops are all identical, it is much easier for a new disease or pest to wipe out an entire harvest. The less diversity farmers maintain, the greater the risk of diseases and pests. This increase in risk means farmers apply more pesticides
to the crop fields or administer antibiotics to the animals.
If farmers are careful and manage resources sustainably
, they can help preserve biodiversity
and the environment
. Many farmers around the world use sustainable farming
and organic or ecological farming
methods. One method is to grow two or more crops in the same field. This helps the farmer reduce crop pests while using fewer pesticides. Another method is to avoid applying pesticides on rainy or windy days so less pesticide will enter waterways causing pollution or get blown away.