14 - Agriculture

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1
Cause

Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the first human activities meeting a fundamental need: food.


4
Consequences

Agriculture

CH4: The digestion of ruminants (cattle, goats) releases methane via the enteric fermentation process. Organic matter is decomposed without oxygen. The same process takes place in rice fields.

N2O comes from the spreading of nitrogen fertilizers. The part of the fertilizer that does not go into the plant to make it grow oxidizes in the open air.


Destruction of natural habitats

Agriculture

Agriculture requires freeing up areas dedicated to direct human food (or indirectly via animal feed and pastures). This release of surface area leads to the destruction of natural habitats, particularly through deforestation. The vast majority of deforestation is caused by agriculture. Soy cultivation in Brazil (mainly to feed livestock) contributes significantly to deforestation in the Cerrado and Amazon.


Use of agricultural fertilisers

Agriculture

Conventional agriculture requires large quantities of fertilizers, including nitrogen synthesized with fossil gas, and phosphorus extracted from mines.


Agriculture

Productivist agriculture/breeding accounts for 70% of drinking water withdrawals in the world (and up to 95% in certain developing countries!), industry (20%) and domestic consumption 10%. The reason is the gigantic irrigation of our crops.


2
Other possible consequences

Agriculture

Agriculture is responsible for ammonia emissions, via fertilizer use and livestock. Ammonia then plays a role in the formation of aerosols.


Agriculture

Agriculture uses very little fossil energy, compared to the emissions of other GHGs for which it is responsible. However, the link is not false.