Environmental Impacts on Food Production
Introduction
Various environmental factors are significant aspects that lead to food insecurity. High temperatures lead to wilting of crops and changing the patterns of precipitation, which translates to low food production (Walker et al., 2016). Similarly, heavy rainfall makes plants too wet, increasing the spread of fungus and thus deteriorating the production of food. It creates ideal conditions for pathogens to thrive, which, in return, affect the manufacture and supply of grains. Environmental pollution that may occur through the air has a substantial negative impact on the production of fish and crops. Water pollution hinders fish production by denying them of oxygen and diminishing their reproduction (Bourke, 2017). On yields, the environmental pollution results in the formation of acidic rain that negatively impacts crop production. Counter-arguments denote that environmental factors significant positive impacts on the creation of crops. Rice farmers argue that too little rainfall results in low production of foods. Consequently, temperature increases plant support by encouraging nitrogen fixation. The purpose of this paper is to argue the environmental effects on food production. The relationship between environmental factors and food production will be evident in this paper. Reduction of pollution will positively influence fish processing firms through the increase in the quantity of food supply. The article will pose an argument on the negative impacts of heavy rainfall, high temperatures, and environmental pollution on food production. The paper will further raise a counter-argument on how these environmental factors increase food production.
Relationship between environmental factors and food production
Various environmental factors such as rainfall, humidity, sunlight, and wind improve the quantity of food production depending on numbers. The optimum amount of moisture and sunlight increase the rate of photosynthesis and pollination, and thus encouraging high crop yields. Favorable climate and rain are also significant to enhance on-time planting and harvesting. However, the unfavorable environment in terms of rainfall or sunlight leads to delayed planting and harvesting (Fister et al., 2016). Favorable amount of rain is vital to enhance the health of plants and thus facilitating high crop produce and food supply. Researchers hold that healthy plants tend to give more productive than those who are less healthy. Optimum levels of environmental factors, therefore, ensure adequate food production by facilitating health crop processes leading to higher productivity.
Extreme environmental factors beyond optimum significantly impact food production by affecting critical crop processes. The hindering of healthy growth of plants reduce the quantity of food supply due to changed robust methods such as photosynthesis in crops. Similarly, insufficient climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall significantly impact the rate production of foods by the closure of the stomata. The closing on the stomata in crops implies a slow rate of photosynthesis, translating to low food production. Generally, small environmental factors below optimum quiet the price of food production by hindering crucial factors in plants.
Adverse environmental factors on food production
Temperature
High temperatures in the air increase the rate of evaporation from plants, which results in wilting. Extreme heat beyond optimum will drastically affect the price of pollination, which will, in return, reduce the flowering of crops. High levels of further temperature cause wilting of crops. The wilting directly affects leaf-tubers such as kales and thus hindering the rate of food production. On other plants, high temperature draws water from plants which reduce the rate of photosynthesis. Slower pace directly affects the price of food production, which results in food insecurity. High soil temperature, on the other hand, decreases the rate of water uptake in plants. This low absorption rate by the roots reduces the rate of uptake on water and nutrients to other parts of the plants. Such an effect weakens the plants and making them prone to infections. The slow absorption rate also reduces the rate of photosynthesis in crops and harms the production of food.
High soil temperature beyond optimum kills nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, which are essential for crop growth. For proteins such as beans, the absence of such bacteria in the root nodules reduces the rate of nitrogen fixation and thus slowing the price of food production. The lack of this critical bacteria in soils significantly reduces the production of food more so proteins. The United States statistics on the effect of high temperature on crop production justify that it reduces crop production by averagely 37% a year (Gomez et al., 2019). Therefore, the summation of all the elements of high temperature leads to a negative effect on food security by 37%. Generally, high temperatures have a significant impact on the growth of crops since they harm critical processes in plants, which results in the healthy growth of crops.
Rainfall
Heavy rainfall causes significant soil erosion, which drains the crops the top nutritious soil layer. Heavy raindrops cause splash erosion and big gulleys between plants. These effects harm active crop growth. It also causes direct physical damage since heavy rainfall causes flooding in farms. The flooding that results from massive rainfall delays the process of harvesting and planting, which in return affects food production. Heavy rain, therefore, affects crop production by draining away nutrients and delaying the process of planting and harvesting. Statistically, excess rain in the US-led to a reduction in the yield of corn by 34% between 1981 to 2016. At the county level, massive rainfall results in a significant decrease in the production of maize than warm areas.
Heavy rainfall also serves as a good indicator which predicts crop diseases. Rain leads to the spread of pathogens that lead to massive crop infections, which affect food supply. When crops are too wet, they start to mold and attract fungal infections, which are then absorbed into the plant. The combination of heavy rainfall with poor drainage and irrigation systems leads to these types of growth evident in crops (Gomez et al., 2019). The spread of fungal, pathogens and pests significant affect the health of the soil, which in return, impact food production of a specific crop. The increase in fungal in the land discourages the proper health of the roots, which affects the absorption rates from the soil and aeration. Therefore, heavy rainfall significantly impacts plant supply through the increase in pathogen levels in the grounds.
Extreme rain also poses a challenge since it deprives the crops of oxygen and enough sunlight. The lack of significant requirements results in variegations on leaves and thus hindering the rate of photosynthesis. The reduction of the scale of oxygen and carbon (iv) oxide conversion in the presence of sunlight impacts the standard of food production. Therefore, heavy rainfall reduces the amount of food production in diverse nations and places in the world. In this case, farmers tend to register a low harvest on heavy rain as compared to moderate rain seasons. The US’s statistics on crop production and heavy rainfall came up with findings that a high amount of rain over 1000mm affects crop production by 25%. Therefore, the US has a higher likelihood of facing food insecurity due to excess rainfall.
Environmental pollution
Pollution of the environment may take place through air pollution, soil pollution, and water pollution. The combination of the three factors affects the food supply in various spheres and diverse ways. Air pollution can take place in the form of emission of untreated gases from the chimneys of multiple industries (Herrero et al., 2019). The smoke released often has various substances such as sulfur compounds that mix with water. The emission of such particles into the air result in air pollution. The pollutants of air in the environment react with rain to form acidic rain. The acidic rain decreases the soil pH below the optimum required by crop growth. Vast amounts of this acidic rain significantly hinder the health of crop production through the creation of an unfavorable environment for the health of crops. Various pollutants lead to pollution of the situation through biomass burning, cattle, and agricultural soils. Industrial sources pollute the environment by 9%, biomass burning by 3%, and dirt for agriculture for 14% (Gomez et al., 2019). The combination of these pollutants in the environment leads to a significant change in the soil’s pH and affecting food supply. Generally, air pollution affects food supply by impacting crop growth as a result of the acidic rain evident after industrial emissions.
Soil pollution may result from the burning of land, and other pollutants such as animals and chemicals. The contamination of soils kills essential bacteria, such as the nitrogen-fixing bacteria and decomposers. The unavailability of these types of bacterial in soils result in reduced soil fertility and thus low productivity of the land. Just like acidic rain, the contamination of soil by chemicals and other pollutants change the pH levels of the grounds to impact the soil microorganisms. Important soil decomposers and other bacteria become affected and therefore make the soil less fertile. The lowering of soil fertility thus leads to low food production and insufficient food supply.
Water pollution results from erosion of soil chemicals from farms and industrial wastes that end up in oceans. This pollution affects fish by depriving them of oxygen. Thus, the process of gaseous exchange is affected by the corruption of the waters, reducing fertilization. Low rates of fertilization among the fish hinder fish farming and general fishing. Statistics justify that more than 1,000 fish species get affected through pollution of oceans. The continuous contamination of the waters leads to a declaration of some areas to be dead zones as they no longer generate fish. Research signifies that 100 marine animals die each year due to toxic materials that are released to the waters (Wunderlich, Gatto, & Smoller, 2018). A further 100,000 marine animals perish due to the entanglement with plastic. Scientists’ additional project that by the year 2050, the number of plastics in oceans will outnumber the fish and thus severely impacting food supply (Porter et al., 2017). The statistics denote that pollution leads to toxic substances into the waters, which, in return, affect the supply of fish as food.
Counterarguments (positive impacts of environmental factors)
Heavy rainfall ensures water security in dams
Critics have come up with various arguments that ecological factors have positive effects on food supply. Some rice farmers argue that heavy rain is crucial to facilitate high rice production. African farmers raise the claim that rice grows well in water-filled surfaces than those with little water supply (Rodrigues et al., 2017). The vast amount of rain provides the water required to grow rice for the whole season. Therefore, necessary dams are put in place to store water to service the scheme during the low water season. Dams are vital to saving vast amounts of water for future use in various agricultural sectors. The absence of heavy rainfall leads to insufficient storage of water in dams, which may harm farming. According to these farmers, pre-planning is a crucial tool for farmers as they have to plan for the dry season when it is heavily raining. Early planning allows them to have various anti-pesticides and antifungals in place which work to prevent crop attack (Sala et al., 2016). Therefore, heavy rainfall becomes the ideal time for farmers to store enough water in dams for the dry season.
However, heavy rainfall may be perceived to have adverse effects only, and it has significant positive outcomes for farmers. Effective planning through the availability of dams ensures water availability in barriers that can be used during the dry season. Therefore, heavy rainfall has a significant positive impact on ensuring food security in various sectors.
High temperatures of (26 to 28⁰) increase the quantity of agricultural produce
High temperatures above 26 degrees to below 30 degrees have a high positive effect on crop yields. This range of temperature opens the stoma of variegated leaves, which makes them photosynthesize easily. Therefore, the activities within the leaf become more apparent, leading to faster cell division in crops and thus leading to higher food production. These claims justify that high temperature is significant to increase the rate of gaseous exchange and transpiration in plants. Te increase in cell division of a plant is significant to realize faster growth and fresh produce by plants of all species. The high temperature in this case thus leads to increased production of food.
Similarly, high temperatures ensure faster drying of agricultural products before processing in industries. Dull climatic conditions and heavy rainfall implies the slow rate of drying of such products and maize, beans, and rice. High temperature is thus vital in working to realize food security in various states.
Remedy to curb adverse environmental impacts of food production
Environmental conservation is a primary method of reducing pollution to air, water, and soil pollution. The responsible organization and governments should come up with laws of preventing industrial wastes into water sources. Each industry should be fitted with electrostatic precipitators to reduce air pollution from various industries. In this case, the impact of air pollution on food production will be minimal since the smoke from enterprises will be free from toxic materials (Gomez et al., 2016). The prevention of air pollution will reduce the possibility of acidic rain and thus protect crops from the change in the soil pH.
Minimizing water pollution by treating wastes from industries will also play a central role in ensuring sufficient fish supply. This measure will work to ensure the maintenance of fish habit and thus increasing its amount. The saving of fish is a significant boost to the fish processing industry and increasing food security as a whole. The reduction of water pollution through evading industrial waste is a central reason for curbing food insecurity by enhancing. Generally, unlike other natural calamities, pollution of air and water sources can be controlled as a way of increasing food production.
Creation of enabling environmental impacts for high food production
- Improvement of infrastructure
Food producing industries strongly rely on menus on the farm as their main products for processing. The environment majorly plays a critical role in ensuring the transportation of foodstuffs into their respective firms. However, some environmental factors such as floods are a deter to processing of foods for the purpose of creating food security. Flood seasons tend to tax the processing sector on the costs of transportation, which leads to alleviated food prices by the production sector. However, non-flooding times are ideal seasons for transporting food products for processing and marketing.
The government and other agricultural organizations have the task of ensuring effective drainage systems are in place to enhance the smooth conveyance of products. The national government and state governments should work alongside each other to improve infrastructure for easy transport during heavy rains. Improvement of infrastructure and transport system is an ideal method of ensuring foods reaches the production firms quickly (Sala et al., 2017). Thus, the government will have to work as a player in farming as a way of improving infrastructure for the smooth movement of agricultural produce.
- Planting drought resistance crops
Climate change is an immense negative impact on farming that result in food insecurity in various nations in the world. High temperatures and insufficient rainfall lead to delayed planting and harvesting times. Such delays create vulnerability in the food supply as various industries run out of the primary materials of production. Farmers and food processing industries can curb this problem by using genetically modified foods. The GMO seeds are designed to evade high drought and thus to resist the unseen climatic changes. The government should work alongside various agricultural organizations to mobilize farmers in using the GMO seeds. In this case, the public will be enlightened on the importance of using GMO seeds during planting. The aftermath of applying GMO seeds is constant and timely food production and supply to processing factories (Sun, Yun, & Yu, 2017). Generally, the use of genetically modified seeds is an ideal way of curbing unseen calamities of the environment that threaten food security.
Recommended strategies regarding the environmental impacts
- Building dams for water storage during rainy seasons
The government and agricultural organizations should build enough dams for water storage to use during dry seasons. Heavy rains seem like a calamity for various farmers and food processing industries (Sun, Yun, & Yu, 2017). However, these organizations and the government can turn the tragedies into assets for food security. In this case, the government will build sufficient dams that store water during heavy rains to use during the dry seasons. Further, trenches can be made that ensure proper drainage to avoid flooding.
- Mobilizing farmers to plant GMO seeds
The government should mobilize the farmers and even subsidize to facilitate the planting of genetically modified seeds. The genetically modified seeds will enhance food security through their drought resistance feature.
- Improving transport network that links farmers and firms
Functional transport networks between farmers and processing industries will play a central role in ensuring the timely delivery of raw materials. An active transport network will work to ensure little capital is used to produce food in industries (Walker et al., 2016). Thus, the creation of a supportive transport network will work to enhance food security positively.
Conclusion
Environmental factors are primary determiners in either food security or food insecurity. Such environmental factors as temperature, rainfall, and pollution dictate the number of products to be harvested. The high amount of temperature increases wilting in crops and thus reducing the process of photosynthesis. The reduction in this process leads to the production of a small amount of food by a particular plant leading to food insecurity. Counterarguments notice that a high temperature of about 28 degrees Celsius open the stoma of leaves and thus increasing the rate of photosynthesis. This temperature, therefore, increases the rate of photosynthesis and therefore leading to high food produce (Wunderlich, Gatto, & Smoller, 2018). The high amount of rainfall results in floods, which deprive crops of direct sunshine through waves. The creation of a proper drainage system and enough dams will be an appropriate measure to avoid this effect. Environmental pollution severely affects food production both in crops and fish. For the fish, pollution of lakes and oceans forms a significant challenge through the emission of toxic substances to the fish (Sala et al., 2017). These effects destroy large fish species and reducing the amount of fish supply to the processing firms. Conservation of the environment by minimizing pollution will serve as an ideal tool to increase fish supply. Food security can also be in place through the use of GMO seeds that are resistant to drought.
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