Introduction

Would you buy products containing the chemical CFC? Or soap containing phosphates? Most probably not if you were aware of their potentially detrimental effect on the environment. The choices and actions taken by people are very different from that of their parents' at a similar age: recycling, saving energy and buying products that are less polluting (i.e. packaging) are now part of the daily routine. It is widely acknowledged that the earth cannot support indefinitely the amounts of refuse and pollution that are being currently produced, and in general there is greater awareness about the care that needs to be taken of the environment. Similarly, agricultural producers are also trying to protect the environment by changing farming practices that can have detrimental effects on the environment. The principles underlying soil and water conservation (make link to this section) are being adopted by many farmers, and agents with pollution potential, such as pesticides and fertilizers, are being managed and applied in different and more sophisticated ways so that any potentially negative impact is reduced. But all these changes are not accomplished easily. The large-scale agricultural production that has evolved in order to produce food as cheaply and readily as possible, has done so through the systematic use of chemical agents and heavy machinery that have the potential to pollute and cause environmental damage if not used appropriately and managed properly. Eliminating or at least decreasing the utilization of pesticides and fertilizers calls for alternative methods that will allow agricultural producers to maintain high productivity while minimizing any negative impacts on the environment. Agricultural practices can affect the environment on, near and beyond the farm. This section examines some of the different impacts that agriculture may have on the environment, from the change of land use to heavy metal pollution and global warming.