escalate, many perceive the industrial production of crops and livestock as the only sufficient method of serving our increasing global needs of food distribution. These methods – namely industrial agriculture – use factories that rely on machinery, fossil fuels, chemicals and synthetic fertilizers to grow a concentration of ‘stable breeds’ over a large area. Industrial agriculture introduced a higher standard of living for customers who now have access to diverse selections of food for lower prices. Over the years, specialized farming practices that focus on the bare minimum that must be inputted in order to achieve a sufficient product have proven to be effective methods of producing large quantities of food. (Above picture: acres of corn stalks in an industrial farm) 
However, the reliability of this form of agriculture must also be taken into consideration. Current forms of industrial farming depend heavily on the exploitation of cheap resources. With the rate of consumption and the excessive damage that we’ve inflicted upon the environment, it’s reasonable to say that these resources won’t be available to us for much longer. Industrial agriculture is largely a money-oriented business that disregards the symbiotic relationship between humans and the environment. As a result, these forms of farming have caused adverse effects on the environment, including the excessive use of water, energy, and industrial chemicals, the pollution of arable land, water and the atmosphere, and the accumulation of pesticides in groundwater. Most importantly, the specialization of a crop over a widespread area – otherwise known as monoculture – severs the relationships crops have with the soil and other animals, thereby significantly damaging biodiversity. In an industrial farm, one breed of corn would be present over acres and acres of land. Supposing an infestation or plague was to hit the farm, every corn stalk on the field would suffer. Similarly, when each pest has to achieve resistance against one breed, adaptability to pesticides is accomplished much quicker.(Above picture: cows in a dairy farm kept in tight spaces with the bare minimum to produce milk)
Fortunately, sustainable agriculture is an alternative method of farming that is much more reliable in the long run. These methods emphasize the ecological connection between organisms and their environment. Some argue that there isn’t enough natural fertilizer to sustain the quantity of crops we require, but the truth is that animal manure is not, by any means, in deficit. In fact, manure is often thought of as a liability when really, it’s an exceptional asset to farming. The closed cycle of nutrients, energy, water and waste ensures the conservation of resources. Sustainable agriculture also increases soil fertility and health, and can even reverse the degradation of agricultural soils that industrial forms of farming have caused. By defeating monoculture and planting a variety of crops side by side, not only is the likelihood of survival enhanced, but pests will also be controlled due to the lack of constant food supply (as found in an industrial farm). Consequently, though it appears that industrial agriculture is the sole solution to our world’s growing food demand, it’s an unreliable method of farming that’s both harmful to the environment and subject to failure. (Above picture: a sustainable farm)
I commented on:
Derek Li's Stewardship of our Natural and Human Resources
Justin Valmores' Opt for Sustainable Agriculture or Go Industrial?
Sources:
"Costs and Benefits of Industrial Agriculture." Alberni Environmental Coalition. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
"Hidden Costs of Industrial Agriculture." Union of Concerned Scientists. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
"Modern Agriculture." College of Natural Resources - UC Berkeley. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
"Organic vs Industrial Agriculture: Can We Have the Best of Both?" Life More Natural. Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
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