In this article, Jana discusses three ways to make farming more sustainable.
With agricultural livestock blamed for a large proportion of global greenhouse gas, it is all too easy to worry about your impact on the environment.
Luckily, all kinds of work are being done to improve farming’s relationship with the planet. Here are just some ways in which farmers can utilise sustainable agriculture methods.
- Vertical farming
If you haven’t heard of vertical farming, let us explain what it is and why it’s useful.
Although meat-eaters normally get a bad rep for being unsustainable, even vegetables need to grow somewhere. But that does not mean that you have to clear acres of land to grow some spinach.
Vertical farming is a relatively new phenomenon that involves (you guessed it!) growing crops vertically – but indoors.
Growing food sources in a glorified greenhouse brings with it various benefits. For example, you do not need to worry about adverse weather conditions, so the quality of your food is going to be far higher compared to crops grown during bad weather.
Meanwhile, because you are growing upward, you have more room in which to grow. Being efficient with space empowers farmers to grow enough food for everyone, even with 600,000 now eating plant-based diets in the UK alone.
- Renewable energy sources
It’s no secret that farms use a lot of energy on everything from machinery to growth-stimulating lighting, so why not swap to renewable sources to do your bit for the planet?
By generating energy from solar, wind, and biomass, you can significantly reduce your energy costs. Bear in mind that you’ll need to look into planning permission for additions like large-scale solar panelling, as well as contact the National Grid to organise the connection to the grid.
As the world gradually incentivises shifts to greener behaviour, renewable energy insurance is becoming more common, making it easier to adjust your operations.
- Alternative transportation options
According to the IAPWA, in Europe, food alone is responsible for 30% of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
You might also want to think about selling your products more locally, where possible and other options.
Final thoughts…
Although farming tends to get a bad rep when it comes to sustainability, but the good news is that there are changes that you can make today to protect the world tomorrow.
From reinventing how we farm and utilising vertical farming to committing to renewable energy and better modes of transport, the possibilities are endless.
If you have not already made a conscious effort to make your farming endeavours more sustainable, what is stopping you?
