Industrial Farms Unnecessary

The world can be fed without the presence of industrial agriculture, according to a new UN report. The report, Agroecology and the Right to Food, states that within five to 10 years, small-scale farming could double food production where most of the world’s hungry reside by utilizing “agroecology.” This farming method uses the natural environment to enhance soil and resist pests, and has led to crop-yield increases of 80 percent in 57 developing countries. “Conventional farming relies on expensive inputs, fuels climate change, and is not resilient to climatic shocks. It simply is not the best choice anymore today,” says author of the report, Olivier De Schutter.