Why We Need Sustainable Advancements in Agriculture
General B2B
As briefly covered in our last blog post, Canadian farmers are determining how they will drastically increase food production in the upcoming years. This hurdle alone is daunting, but meeting this goal alongside using sustainable practices may feel impossible. Luckily, we are in an age of technology and research, which is imperative for our farmers to meet this growing demand (An estimated 70% more food in the next 30 years). Nature’s education (2011) highlights an important factor in sustainability, stating that to operate sustainably you must consider employment, economic, ethical and eco-friendly factors.
Due to the abundance of cases regarding the unsustainable farming of animals, marine life, and land being exploited, sustainable operations are more important than ever. Many of our natural resources are being taken advantage of, the clock is now ticking, and we are starting to see side effects of these actions. I cannot stress enough that our local farmers are not the cause of these negative circumstances. Many big players are contributing to the exploitation of natural resources and are profiting off limited resources in an unsustainable manner.
It is predicted that by the year 2050, the world will need approximately 70% more food than is currently being produced to sustain the growing world population.
Farm Fresh
Sustainable Practices in Agriculture
Thanks to multiple sources, we have outlined some key practices farmers can use on their journey to a sustainable way of life. These tips are also useful for home gardens.
Soil Enrichment – Soil enrichment is the process of making your soil as high-quality as possible. Enriched soil contains a sufficient nutrient content, is biodiversity and organism interaction.
Crop Rotation – Crop rotation is the method in which different variants of the same crops are grown in sequential seasons. This technique implements multiple variables (duration, pesticides, to determine what approach will yield the best success.
Cover Crops – Cover crops are a method commonly used in crop rotation and various sustainable agriculture practices. Cover crops protect and work to further enrich the soil, by suppressing the growth of weeds and improving the overall quality of the soil. This requires less need of fertilizers and unnecessary pesticides.
Natural Animal Raising – Natural animal raising focuses on ensuring livestock are living as close to their natural environment as possible. This allows the animals to live an overall happier and more fulfilled life, where they can socialize, eat, play and sleep as they like.
Permaculture – Permaculture in farming focuses on growing ecosystems that provide for humanity, while still profiting the land. This achieves the goal of utilizing natural resources without exploiting them. The goal of permaculture is to work with nature, rather than against it.
Natural Pest Hunters – As stated earlier, sustainability isn’t just referring to eco-friendly habits. The well-being of people, the economy and wildlife need to be considered. Ensuring your farm is habitational for wildlife that eats pests, will prevent pests from destroying your crop. This also reduces the need for pesticides and various chemicals.
Sustainable farming ensures the habitation of these birds and animals on the farms, thereby keeping the number of pests in check.
Jain Farm Fresh
I hope at least one of the tips listed above resonated with you to include in your routine. And if you’re already using one or more, you’re ahead of the game. For our beloved Farming friends, below is linked to some of the most popular soaps among our customers in agriculture. Feel free to browse and let us know what you think about the tips in this article.
Oh! And before we go, please remember to support local whenever possible! This not only circulates money within our local economy but also contributes to fewer fuel emissions in transporting local goods!
Agriculture Liquid Soaps
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