Industrial Agriculture and Climate Change
Our world's climate is changing. Here's the role of agriculture in that change.
GrowBoston is committed to cultivating sustainability in the face of climate change. To do so, it is important to acknowledge how agriculture and climate change interact.
Industrial agriculture is a major contributor to climate change. The use of synthetic fertilizers, machinery, livestock, and transportation adds to greenhouse gas emissions. Conversely, climate change is damaging the agriculture industry. With changing extreme weather events, rising temperatures, more frequent droughts, shifting planting zones, and the increase of pests and diseases, agricultural operations are at risk. This informational page will not only explain these harmful effects but also how to mitigate them.
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Still have questions? Contact:
GrowBoston
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12 Channel Street
9th FloorBoston, MA 02210
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This page was created in collaboration with the City of Boston’s Environment Department.
How Industrial Agriculture Contributes to Climate Change
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions. These gasses trap excess heat in the earth's atmosphere.
According to the IPCC’s 2019 Special Report on Climate Change and Land (updated January 2020):
Agriculture, forestry, and other land use activities associated with food production account for 23% of total net emissions of greenhouse gasses.
Agriculture accounted for around 13% of carbon dioxide, 44% of methane, and 81% of nitrous oxide emissions from human activities globally during 2007-2016.
These emissions come from intensive use of synthetic fertilizers, machinery, livestock, and transportation.
Deforestation
It is common for industrial agriculture projects to cut down trees and forests. "Forests are burned and cleared in order to make way for cattle pasture land, or replaced with crops such as corn, soy, and wheat, which are turned into feed for animals" (Catherine McCandless). Forests serve as carbon sinks, meaning they take in and store carbon from the atmosphere. When trees are chopped down, they have the opposite effect: releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Deforestation not only releases a greenhouse into the atmosphere but reduces the planet’s ability to absorb it.
Soil Degradation
Healthy soil acts as another carbon sink. It takes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it. This naturally helps mitigate the effects of climate change. However, soil degradation has the opposite effect. Soil degradation is caused by excessive tilling and chemical use in industrial agriculture. It reduces soil's ability to sequester carbon, therefore adding to climate change.
Loss of Biodiversity
Monoculture farming is a common practice in industrial agriculture. It is the process of growing a single crop in a field, year after year, and is used for increased food output. However, it reduces biodiversity. This loss of biodiversity is detrimental in the face of climate change. It makes ecosystems more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and extreme weather events.
Water Use and Pollution
Industrial agriculture relies heavily on irrigation. This water usage has a high carbon footprint, adding to climate change. It also causes water scarcity in some regions. Additionally, agricultural runoff from chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States.
Wastewater from agricultural operations is often disposed of by spreading it on land or in water bodies. This damages aquatic ecosystems by harming plants and marine life, making the ecosystems less resilient against climate impacts.
How Climate Change Affects Agriculture
Health
Climate change has serious consequences for the health of agricultural workers as well as livestock. In the face of climate change, workers face more days of extreme heat and poor air quality. With an increase in temperature, pesticide use is expected to increase and become more hazardous for humans. “Most agricultural workers are low-income, undocumented, refugees, or formerly incarcerated individuals. Industrial agriculture operations (especially animal agriculture) often get placed near or in environmental justice communities given the negative health impacts to surrounding areas” (Catherine McCandless).
Livestock is also affected by climate change. Some animals are especially vulnerable to heat stress. For example, dairy cows produce less milk when put under heat stress. In 2010, dairy production in the United States suffered an estimated $1.2 billion loss due to heat stress.
Soil and Water
Soil and water are essential to agriculture. Climate change is damaging these natural resources. The frequency of heavy precipitation in some areas of the United States is increasing. The Northeast has seen a ten percent increase in total average annual precipitation in the last fifty years. Massachusetts is expected to see more intense spring downpours and increased flooding. With increased precipitation, the nutrients needed to grow food are being depleted via soil erosion. Additionally, sea level rise poses threats to the very ecosystems that coastal agricultural communities rely on. Coastal agricultural lands will face regular flooding with salt water from the ocean.
Climate change will also increase the frequency and severity of droughts across the country. In 2022, Massachusetts saw drought across the state that lowered crop yields, depleted water sources, and undersized fruits and vegetables. Droughts of this kind are expected to become more frequent in the coming years.
Productivity
With warming temperatures and increased variability in precipitation, agricultural productivity is changing. These changes affect when plants bloom and when pollinators emerge. Sometimes, these timing changes are mismatched, affecting the productivity of crops.
Climate change increases wildfires and air pollution. Both of these cause damage to the plants grown for food. Overall, there is expected to be a decrease in crop yield due to climate change. While the lengthening of growing seasons may increase some crop yields, much of the major commodity crop yields are expected to lower.
Climate Mitigation
Climate mitigation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to stop the effects of the climate crisis. The steps taken by urban agriculture are essential in climate mitigation. Urban agriculture can contribute to climate resilience by providing locally grown food, reducing transportation emissions, and enhancing community engagement. Urban farms also serve as greenspaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve air quality. Below are some agricultural action items for climate mitigation.
Soil Management
Manage soil health by getting the soil tested and amended as necessary. Incorporate agroecological practices such as cover cropping, intercropping, and crop rotation. Reduce tillage, as over-tilling can reduce soil’s ability to sequester carbon.
Transportation
Use local resources to avoid the carbon footprint of high “food miles.” Food miles are the distance food travels from farm to plate. When food miles are longer they can significantly increase the carbon footprint of food.
Energy Use
Switch from non-renewable energy sources to renewable. Focus on innovative agriculture practices that are energy-efficient, such as indoor vertical farming and greenhouse cultivation.
Waste Management
Compost properly. This is to avoid the improper disposal of organic matter which can release methane.
Water Use
Incorporate efficient water use practices. This can include drip irrigation or rainwater harvesting.
Climate Adaptation
Climate adaptation is the steps taken to prepare for the effects of climate change. In urban agriculture, climate adaptation is mainly aimed at reducing vulnerability to high heat and extreme weather events. Below are some agricultural action items for climate adaptation.
Select Heat-Tolerant and Drought-Resistant Crops
Choose crop varieties that are suitable for extreme temperature conditions.
Select Salt-Tolerant Crops in Coastal Agricultural Areas
Choose salt-tolerant crop varieties suitable for coastal agricultural areas where saltwater intrusion from sea level rise and coastal storms will impact agricultural lands.
Adjust Planting Calendars
Monitor how your growing season is shifting due to climate change, and adjust the planting schedule as necessary.
Increase Biodiversity
This will help build resilience against pests, diseases, and extreme weather events.
Reduce Pesticide Use
Reducing pesticide use will build natural crop resistance in the face of increased pest and disease threats. Try using non-chemical management such as introducing beneficial insects, native plants, or physical methods.
Improve Pollination
Improving pollination will also build natural crop resistance in the face of extreme weather. Do this by including plants that attract and host pollinators.
Expand Agroforestry
Integrate trees into cropland to increase soil productivity, improve water storage, and buffer against climate variability.
Use Climate Forecasting Tools
Use these tools to predict high-heat and extreme weather events, and prepare growing spaces as necessary.
Sustainable Food Choices
If you’re not a food producer, you can still impact the sustainability of our food system. Here are some ways you can make more sustainable food choices.
- Eat more plant-based foods
- Shop with a reusable bag
- Cut down on food waste
- Compost
- Try a Sustainable Recipe
For more detailed information on this topic, check out Food and Climate Change: Healthy Diets for a Healthier Planet or Eight Tips for Eating for the Plant.
Sources
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Still have questions? Contact:
GrowBoston
-
12 Channel Street
9th FloorBoston, MA 02210
-
This page was created in collaboration with the City of Boston’s Environment Department.
