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Feeding the World Sustainably: Agroecology vs. Industrial Agriculture

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Downsides of the industrial agricultural system include a huge reliance on petrochemicals and heavy mechanization. Agriculture contributes roughly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and industrial agriculture can also be a tremendous user and polluter of the world's water resources.

But the graphic also shows how agroecological approaches -- including the incorporation of livestock and crops, integrated pest management, and cover cropping -- can not only reduce the burden of agriculture on the environment, but also improve nutrition and increase incomes. Agroecology can actually conserve and protect both soil and water -- through terracing, contour farming, intercropping, and agroforestry -- and absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. And agroecological practices could double and triple yields in poorer areas, where many farms lack irrigation infrastructure, or are situated on hillsides or other difficult farming sites.


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