Why Sustainable Farming Is Key To Reducing Pollution

Do you know where more than half of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand come from? They come from agriculture. Farming is the biggest cause of these emissions. This has drastically impacted the air quality of New Zealand. 

Another problem that these farming practices cause is the pollution of waterways such as rivers and streams. The largest impact on water pollution is the exponential growth in the dairy industry over the last twenty years. Farmers are using more fertiliser to pack as many animals as possible into their land, which leads to an overload of nutrients streaming into the water supply. The nitrate and phosphate runoff into freshwater from fertilisers and pesticides has created a water shortage. This has led to un-swimmable rivers and lakes, as well as water that cannot be consumed. 

Sustainable Farming 

If such detrimental practices continue, it can create a variety of environmental problems that we may not be able to recover from. This is why we need to switch to sustainable farming practices.

Here is how you can contribute to this issue and make a change:

• Educate yourself on how the fruits and vegetables you buy are grown
• Teach yourself how to garden
• Start by planting a small garden of a few fruits and vegetables in your backyard 
• If you live in an apartment, you can use containers for this 
• Learn how to make your compost
• Support local businesses that are using organic farming practices 

If all of us collectively work towards solving this issue, then we can create a sustainable environment for ourselves and future generations. Do your part, do your research, and educate yourself on the issues at home. 

Make an effort to contribute to change because it all starts with you. Start simple and then move on to bigger efforts. Together, we can all make a difference.