Protected environment

Agriculture has had to cope with population increases and growing demand for food, and thus has intensified production systems. Already, the consequences of modern farming methods include a loss of biodiversity, exploitation of natural resources and contamination of soil, water and air. Today, there is little land left to turn into farming, except for remaining forests that for several reasons need to be protected. Expansion of cultivated land has reached an ecological – and politically acceptable  – limit.

The concept of sustainable agriculture aims at preserving biodiversity and maintaining soil fertility and water purity. It also contributes to the conservation and improvement of the soil.

About one third of the world’s surface is land, and about one-tenth of this is used for permanent crops. Although new land may be put into production in parts of Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, there are several limitations to new acreage that can be used for agriculture. Such constraints on the use of these potential agricultural land resources for cultivation are partly agronomical, partly political.

In some cases, potential areas simply do not have the desired soil quality or a reliable rainfall pattern to make cultivation feasible. A lack of infrastructure may restrict development. In other cases, where soil and water are adequate, environmental concerns argue against cultivation. The threshold for clearing forest for cultivation has been raised along with acquired knowledge about global warming and concern over climate change. Bad experiences from deforestation, especially the reduction of tropical rain forests, further limits the expansion of farmland.

Scarce land and demand for food have spurred the intensified production methods that have caused ecological degradation, calling for other approaches and methods.

Sustainable food production implies that available resources are used as efficiently and equitably as possible: The development and sustainable use of natural resources (land, water, nutrients, energy), technology (mineral fertilizers, improved seeds, irrigation, machinery and transport); as well as knowledge (generation and maintenance, transfer and adaptation), must be applied as improved agricultural management practices. At the same time, the development and sustainable use of all these resources depend on policies for land ownership, farm income, taxation and support, trade and access to technology and markets, as well as political stability. An important policy dimension involves international cooperation and regulation – particularly on markets and trade, and on environmental regulations.

Agriculture exerts a major influence on the environment, affecting many ecological systems in several ways: Farming takes up land, consumes water, and affects the landscape as well as biodiversity. Agriculture is also a major polluter of the land, water and air; mainly because of the application of pesticides and the run-off of excessive nutrients. Agriculture is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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Agriculture affects the quality of soil, while agricultural productivity totally depends on the soil. Whereas some soils are naturally poor in nutrients required for plant production, others that are inherently rich have been severely depleted because of intensive production that has not replenished the nutrients.

Such mismanagement leaves the land unproductive and farming unprofitable. Soil management for increased and sustainable food production, including the application of fertilizers and water, is a great challenge, and soil degradation is a major cause for concern.
 
Yara contributes to the long-term sustainability of soils through its development of a wide range of mineral fertilizers to meet individual crop needs. At the same time, inappropriate use of mineral fertilizers may have some detrimental effects on the soil, creating an imbalance of nutrients.

Agriculture affects the quality and supply of water, while it also depends heavily on its availability. Scarcity of fresh water already is a major concern in large parts of the world. A growing population needs more water, and increased production of food requires more water. About 70 percent of the world’s consumption of fresh water is used in agriculture. In parts of the developing world, the share is up to 90 to 95 percent. At the same time, irrigation often boosts yields tremendously, up to four times.

Yara contributes to sustainable water management in agriculture by providing a complete range of mineral fertilizers to meet different crop requirements, and by developing systems for improved water management. Also, inappropriate use of mineral fertilizers may cause serious pollution. Yara has invested heavily in advisory systems to ensure accurate matching of nutrient supply and crop need to meet good agricultural practice, reducing the detrimental effects on water quality while allowing economic agriculture to continue.

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Agriculture affects the quality of the air through emission of various gases associated with crop nutrients. Ammonia contributes to acid rain and can upset natural ecosystems. Most of the ammonia produced by agriculture is associated with animal manures but a small amount is lost following the application of some nitrogen fertilizers, particularly urea.

Yara tries to reduce its products’ potentially detrimental effects on air quality through its range of advisory services to help farmers use fertilizer in the best possible way. Losses from fertilizers can be minimized if excessive application is avoided. Yara also contributes to reducing harmful air pollution by leveraging its chemical knowledge to develop products that help companies and communities reduce emissions.

To meet increased food demand from a growing population, more food needs to be produced on land already available. Balanced application of mineral fertilizers can do this, without having to encroach on habitats better preserved as part of a sustainable future. The use of mineral fertilizers may save pristine land – including tropical forests – from being cultivated. At the same time, the production of mineral fertilizers is extremely energy-intensive, contributing considerably to GHG emissions, although these have been greatly reduced through energy efficiency and abatement technologies that Yara has developed and applied.

Yara, as the world’s leading producer of mineral fertilizers and industrial applications, is a key player in facilitating agricultural methods and systems that support the concept of sustainable agriculture. At the same time, Yara develops and distributes products crucial in reducing air pollution caused by emissions from combustion.