Sustainable farmers who do things differently
- Viktoria Yordanova
- Apr 28, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: May 25, 2021
Our overgrowing population has become an area of concern for many scientists in recent years. We are expected to reach 10 billion people on earth in 30 years and will have to double our food production to meet the demand. But how can we strike the balance between producing more food and preserving the planet at the same time?
Many farmers in the UK and around the world are driving the change by adopting more eco-friendly farming practises. Instead of raising animals in confinement systems, some farmers provide them with access to outdoors facilities where they can express natural behaviors— pigs can wallow in mud to cool down and chickens can peck and scratch on meadows.
The UK alone has over 800 livestock intensive farms, but if animals such as cows are raised on grasslands for most of the time, this could improve both soil's quality and animals' welfare. Cattle's grazing could be managed and regenerative, which could increase organic matter in the soil and encourage biodiversity. But if cattle are not moved from paddock to paddock to graze (so called rotational grazing), the soil could become infertile and nothing could be grown for several years.
Rotating paddocks can prevent overgrazing
Reducing the use of chemical pesticides is also a beneficial strategy. Pesticides are used to keep insects and bugs away from the crops, but they harm our enviornent and wildlife, and add toxins to the food chain. Limited use of pesticides can attract more organisms such as soil fungi, pollinators, and predatory and weed-seed-eating insects and spiders which can naturally manage the bugs.
Animal’s manure can also be put to good use. Throughout the centuries, animal waste has been used as fertilizer, soil amendment or even construction material. Manure contains many beneficial components, including nutrients, organic matter, and fiber, which allow farmers to utilize waste in many different ways.
In this radio package, you will hear the stories of two livestock farmers, who are getting the best out of their farms while caring for the environment. Click on the play button to find out what sustainable practises they have adopted.
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