Thread by @ClimateBen

Industrial agriculture damages soil (organic matter depletion & structure degradation).

Farmland then
-needs heavy doses of fertilizer to be productive
-is prone to erosion & runoff that pollutes waterways
-is more vulnerable to floods & droughts

1/4

ucsusa.org/food/sustainab…

Agroecological science:

'solutions are out there: reduce plowing; protect soil year-round with cover crops & more complex crop rotations; incorporate deep-rooted plants on and around farms to hold nutrients & water (while also providing habitat for wildlife & pollinators)'

2/4

Climate breakdown 'is hitting farmers hard already, and it’s only going to get worse. Droughts, floods, extreme heat and other climate impacts will wreak havoc:

-reducing yields
-increasing erosion and pollution
-threatening farmers’ businesses and our food supply.

3/4

'Approaches like agroecology work with nature and avoid the chemical fertilisers and pesticides that harm the environment and human health. Agroecology can provide multiple benefits to farmers, including improved resilience to climate change.'

👇

https://twitter.com/1TeresaAnderson/status/1176243758674972674?s=19

4/4

I don't pretend to have any expertise here, but it seems to me common sense to suggest that we need to be discussing both the science and the politics of agroecology.

Reassessing food is key, but how many times does the word 'agroecology' make it to the front page of newspapers?