VIRTUAL ELIMINATION OF INSECTS CAUSED BY INTENSIVE FARMING.
With all the pressures on the environment and the population explosion mankind is rushing into producing more food at lower prices. With conflicts exacerbating the supply and delivery of basic foodstuffs large corporations are looking for more efficiency and profit. This all leads to a disastrous scenario for our insects and wildlife. Some governments have belatedly started with concepts of “set aside” to enhance the opportunities for nature to re-establish but many experts talk about “too little too late”.
Habitat Destruction: Intensive farming often involves clearing large areas of land for crop cultivation or animal rearing. This habitat destruction can directly eliminate the natural habitats of many insects, including beneficial species that serve as pollinators or predators of agricultural pests. It has got so bad in some countries that humans with long poles and brushes are trying to do the work of bees.
Pesticide Use: Intensive farming relies heavily on the use of chemical pesticides to control pests and maximize crop yields. While these pesticides can effectively target pests, they can also harm non-target insects, including pollinators like bees and butterflies. Pesticides can disrupt insect populations and negatively affect the biodiversity of farming ecosystems. They also end up in water courses and kill all underwater life.
Monoculture and Biodiversity Loss: Intensive farming often focuses on cultivating a single crop species over large areas (monoculture). This reduces overall biodiversity, as it eliminates diverse habitats and food sources that support a wide range of insects. Certain insects may rely on specific plant species for feeding or reproduction, and the loss of these plants can lead to declines in insect populations.
Genetic Modification: Some intensive farming practices involve the use of genetically modified (GM) crops, which have been altered to possess specific traits such as resistance to pests or herbicides. While GM crops can offer benefits in terms of increased productivity, there is ongoing debate about their long-term effects on insect populations and ecosystems. They have caused many Indian farmers to commit suicide as the normal practice of replanting seeds every year has been replaced by single year use necessitating the farmers to spend more and many cant.
Nutrient Pollution: Intensive farming often involves the heavy use of fertilizers to enhance crop growth. Excessive fertilizer application can lead to nutrient runoff into water bodies, causing eutrophication. This process can lead to algal blooms and oxygen depletion, negatively impacting aquatic insects and their ecosystems.
Reduced Habitat Complexity: Intensive farming tends to simplify landscapes by removing natural elements like hedgerows, trees, and wildflower meadows. These landscape features provide important habitats and food sources for insects. The loss of such diverse habitats can result in severely reduced insect abundance and diversity.
