How Agriculture Majors Are Going To Save The World
"Global warming is not only the number one environmental challenge we face today, but one of the most important issues facing all of humanity... We all have to do our part to raise awareness about global warming and the problems we as a people face in promoting a sustainable environmental future for our planet " - Leonardo DiCaprio
Farming has been an essential aspect of life since the beginning of time. However, the agriculture industry alone accounts for 9% of the total greenhouse gas emissions of the U.S. This equates to 6,673 million metric tons of CO2 each year. These emissions come from various agriculture activities such as management of soils and management of livestock. Management of soils such as fertilization and irrigation emit Nitrous Oxide, while livestock emit methane. These livestock produce manure, which is not always stored properly, which in turn produces 12% of the greenhouse gasses associated with the agriculture industry.
So whats the next step?
Research.
A study was recently completed at Iowa State University that proposes alternatives to the regular corn-soybean rotation that many farmers use. By adding small grains with a red clover crop on a three year rotation or by adding small grains and alfalfa hay on a four year rotation, nitrogen use would be reduced by up to 86%, 88% less herbicides would be needed, and freshwater toxicity from herbicides would decrease by 200 times after a 9 year period.
The point of all of this is to show that there are ways to make the agriculture industry more sustainable. Unfortunately, inadequate funding for this kind of research is a major problem. Only 15% of education and research grants are available to agroecology. This is why agriculture majors are needed more than ever. Studies related to farming and how it affects the environment are critical because these greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change. With an increase in education on the subject, more studies like the study done at Iowa State can be conducted. These studies can be published to raise awareness about the harmful emissions that come with farming. More awareness means the USDA will be more likely to increase the budget for research into sustainable agriculture projects. Since the rates of these emissions have not been declining by an exceptional amount, research and future careers in agricultural studies need to continue. Leonardo DiCaprio said it best: "Thousands of climate scientists agree that global warming is not only the most threatening environmental problem but also one of the greatest challenges facing all of humanity."
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