Aus Truth-Quark
The green revolution was a period of extreme innovation that took place in farming predominantly in the 1960's and 70's, although commenced within the 1940's. During this time period huge amounts of research and development were undertaken that increased farming productivity significantly, the benefits of which we continue to enjoy these days. Projects included the development of higher yielding crop types, the introduction of artificial fertilisers and also pesticides along with improving and also modernising farm management.
It was those revolutions, and products now made by the likes of agriculture experts, which enabled more food security in the developed world than previously achievable. Huge yields were accomplished through relatively small regions of land, making food simple to come by within the developed world for many people. As contemporary farming practices developed, the requirement for lasting farming was broadened from economic and food sustainability to environmental and also social sustainability. While the level of investment in farming R&D has been considerably decreased since the green revolution, the knowledge within the sector has greatly elevated and farming companies have adjusted their procedures to deliver farming durability.
These days all farming industrial sectors including grains, horticulture, fisheries, sugar and also meat are concerned with sustainable farming. Agriculture property is not as abundant as it was throughout the green revolution and also to guarantee the durability from the sectors and importantly the worldwide food supply, sustainable agriculture practices have to be at the forefront of everything the food industry does. In Australia R&D businesses, that represent farmers, invest in research and development to enhance the sustainable farming practices. Often this is jointly financed together with the federal government.
Sustainable agriculture is not just a buzz phrase in nations such as Australia, but instead is important business. Along with limited arable land, limited drinking water and increasing weather variability and severe weather events improving sustainable farming methods is essential towards the future success of the sector and also to the world's food supply.
Any sustainable farm has to be able to manufacture food without using up the natural resources required to grow more produce later on. As methods have evolved and information about sustainable farming procedures have expanded, farmers have grown to be conscious that they are responsible for a lot more than their crops and animals. Where once farmers grazed animals, today sustainable livestock farmers consider themselves as handling three living ecosystems: their own animals; the grass and also groundcover that animals have to eat to survive and the soil which ultimately is the most important element to manage. Without great soil health lasting farming cannot exist. If soil health is depleted the grass or crops won't grow very well. Environmental degradation on a farm and in surrounding areas is also a reality if soil health isn't a target of sustainable agriculture. Without good soil health the structure of the soil can be compromised leading to dust storms and also run off of top soil in heavy down pours into waterways.