Humans depend on biodiversity to provide us with food. Growing the food that we eat depends on a number of different factors. Traditional farming tries to use knowledge gained over hundreds of years about the natural biodiversity of the land and then use this information to decide what to grow. This involves considering many different things, including crop rotation and diversity, farm size and pest control.
The practice of changing the crops on a piece of land on a regular basis, also known as crop rotation, is important to save or increase the mineral content of the soil, increase crop yields, and get rid of weeds, insects and plant diseases. For many years the practice also involved using chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth and chemical pesticides to control pests that damage the crop. Over time studies showed that the chemicals used in the fertilizers and pesticides contaminated the plants being grown and thus the people and animals that ate them. The chemicals were also found to seep into water tables, rivers and streams.
Today there is a growing movement to embrace organic farming. Organic farming is the process of producing food naturally. This method avoids the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms to influence the growth of crops.
The main idea behind organic farming is 'zero impact' on the environment. In the end, the food produced via organic farming is better for your health and the environment that makes it possible.
Did you know?
Although some insects are considered pests, other insects such as bees and butterflies are beneficial. These insects, along with bats and birds, pollinate 90% of all flowering plants and about 75% of the world’s main types of crops.
Here are some tips for growing your own food
- Rotate the vegetables you plant in the same container and it will work in a similar way as crop rotation
- Use organic fertilizers instead of chemicals to promote plant growth and control pests
- Buy local and organic food as much as possible. This reduces the pollution produced by shipping food and encourages a reduction in the amount of pesticides used.
If you want to learn more about food and biodiversity try looking at the Land Use pages in the Homework Help section of the EcoKids website.
