Agriculture to mitigate the warming

Industrial agriculture has succeeded in producing large quantities of food for the world market at the same time as significantly harming the soil: weathering and drifting of soils; Harm to biodiversity which includes the loss of pollinators due to air, water and soil pollution. A UN report lists the ways to correct the situation and return the carbon to the soil

When, despite resolutions and statements, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions is increasing, when according to all indications 2019 will be the hottest year since measurements began, when at the climate summit in Madrid all the speakers warned against reaching a tipping point after which it will not be possible to stop the warming, and some say that already We have reached it, there are also those who show ways and methods to mitigate the disaster. Among the other ways to stop the warming and prevent a disaster are the transition to environmental agriculture, cultivation methods that will preserve the vitality of the soils.

On 5/12, "World Earth Day" was noted, the slogan of which was: "For the future, stopping the pollution and weathering of soils". The soil has a significant contribution to the mitigation of warming and climate change through the adsorption and oxidation of the carbon in the soil, therefore agricultural areas play an important role in the mitigation of warming. Through cultivation and farming methods it is possible to help the soil absorb large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and at the same time renew and revive the fertility of the soil, improve the health of the plants and the entire environmental system. Thus, according to a report by UNEP, "The United Nations Environmental Program" under the name "Put the carbon back in its place...."

Industrial agriculture has succeeded in producing large quantities of food for the world market at the same time as significantly harming the soil: weathering and drifting of soils; damage to biodiversity which includes the loss of pollinators due to pollution; Air pollution and pollution from open water reservoirs and groundwater, - pollution of the oceans with excess nutrients due to the overuse of fertilizers that flow into the seas and oceans; - use of huge amounts of water to the point of waste; excessive and unnecessary use of fertilizers and herbicides and insecticides; and more. Due to all the pollution, agriculture "contributes". About 23% of all greenhouse gas emissions, when are Livestock breeding "contributes" about 14%.

A thin layer of soil forms the basis for creating most of the food, which calls into question the level of sustainability of industrial agriculture, as due to poor management there is a continuous loss of soils. According to the experts of the "Program" (UNEP), areas suitable for cultivation are being lost at a rate of about 40% of the rate of soil formation, which causes damage to food production and nutritional security, according to the program, a quarter of the areas have already been damaged. Huge areas of fertile land are lost every year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization To date, approximately 33% of all arable land has been damaged.

According to new research
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/soil_quality_climate_litter_decomposition_fauna_534na3_en.pdf
Hot and dry climate conditions that will be created will cause serious damage to the ground fauna (such as diarrhea, fungi and bacteria), creatures that break down dead plant material and return the soil to its fertility, a significant damage to agriculture and environmental systems in nature throughout the world, since the decomposition and decay of plants is a key process in the recycling and distribution of nutrients in the ground and in the whole environment.

Sustainable management of soil requires understanding the importance of the relationship between plants and soil life, plants are mutually active with a large number of microorganisms, mainly fungi and bacteria. In healthy soil there are fungi and bacteria that influence the growth and health of plants and also improve the balance of food and water in the soil.

"Processing methods in agriculture that contribute to the growth of organic matter in the soil support the improvement and increase of food production, increase biological diversity, improve water retention in the soil, contribute to resistance to periods of drought and many more important environmental services,"

One of the threats to the health of the soil is pollution, pollution whose main source is human activity such as industrial agriculture, industry, mining, littering and more. All of them are sources of pollution that is a global emergency. Pollution endangers the soil's ability to provide important environmental services and endangers the well-being and health of people and animals.
Resolution of the UN Environment Assembly calls for the management of soil pollution in order to achieve sustainable development Calling on countries to take measures to prevent pollution by actions such as: assessing the extent of pollution, health risks, environmental risks and damage to food security, promoting coordinated approaches to fighting pollution by strengthening the launch of scientific approaches based on information that will be shared by countries and regions on an international scale."

The UN organizations for food and agriculture - UNEP - and for health - WHO - combine cooperation with other organizations in reporting on the trend and state of soil pollution, including the effect of fertilizers and insecticides, with the intention of launching a report that will be brought to the UN Conference on Environmental Affairs in 2021.

Healthy and fertile soils will help achieve "Sustainable Development Goal 1" (Eradication of poverty), and "Goal 2" (Zero hunger). Proper land management will help to reach "Goal 13" (Mitigation of the impact of climate change), as well as "Goal 15" (living on the ground), eliminating littering and reducing the use of hazardous materials and "Goal 6" (Clean water and sanitation), all for the sake of sustainable activity and the mitigation of soil pollution.

The clear connection between sustainable development and soil health requires governments, social organizations and the private sector to join forces to prevent further pollution and to heal contaminated soils that pose a risk to the health of people, animals and the environment.

On a personal note: at the time I plowed fields with deep plowing, I spread a lot of fertilizers, I sprayed insecticides and herbicides for the most part, I severely damaged the quality of the soil and the natural environment. I did what was accepted as good, proper and right at the time. Today, it is well known and recognized that those methods of cultivation and "treatment" severely damage the health and fertility of the soil, on the other hand, cultivation methods that are friendly to the soil and the environment are known. It is important that the scientific information that has been accumulated over the years is brought before the farmers with methods of management, care and processing that do not harm the soils, it is important that farmers learn how to manage this very important resource, the management of the soil in methods that do not harm the health and fertility of the soil, it is important that they engage in sustainable environmental agriculture...