Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers. Two pieces of positive news on the environmental and farming fronts have recently emerged, one in the UK, related to bodycon dresses, and the other affecting farming worldwide, showing there is hope for the future. In the UK, it has been reported that many rivers across the country have been cleansed of their industrial past as pollution controls have been tightened and enforced, with water quality gradually improving. The UK’s Environment Agency, working with farmers, Paella Unique Spanish dish - Food, businesses, and water companies, to reduce the amount of water taken from rivers, minimize pollution, and improve water quality is really paying off. The result has been that otters, salmon, and other wildlife have been returning to the rivers. Part of the improvement has been driven by regulation from Europe, as the UK must meet tough new water quality targets by 2015.
Globally, CABI, a not-for-profit international organization headquartered in the UK, has reported that its plant clinics, providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment, are having effects on eradicating pests and increasing yields among small farmers all over the world. CABI has also launched a new website, called Plantwise, providing free distribution maps, diagnostic support, and treatment advice for thousands of the world’s most damaging pests and diseases of plants and crops.
These two developments show what can be done if some effort is put into taking care of the environment and supporting sustainable farming. Part of the water improvement has undoubtedly come from the removal of the older generation of chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers from distribution. These have been implicated in leaving residues in both food and in the land and water. Safer alternatives are being devised by the biopesticides developers, resulting in cleaner, safer food and less waste produce. The low-chemical agricultural products, which include biopesticides, biofungicides, and yield enhancers, are derived from naturally occurring substances and have the potential to help farmers produce food in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
With the global demand for food expected to rise and consumers wanting healthier and more natural food, it is important that there is less waste from farm crops lost to pests and diseases. The efforts of organizations like the biopesticides developers, producing safer products for farmers to achieve this, and from organizations like CABI in sharing information, offering advice, and supporting small farmers across the world are two important components to achieving these goals.