The current industrial agriculture system promotes the reliance on agrochemicals, both
synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, while neglecting to consider their negative effects on the
economy of local communities, human health and environment. The long term use of high
levels of agrichemical to boost yields has made it difficult to sustain the same rate of yield
growth, and yields approach the economic optimum levels. Environmental pressures are
increasing as existing land and water resources come under threat from rapid urbanization.
Land is being withdrawn from agricultural production, creating additional pressures for the
reallocation of water now used in agriculture. Furthermore, the need to use large amounts of
pesticides to control pests and weeds has raised environmental and human health concerns.
Agrochemicals pose health and environmental risks, and they can pollute rivers and lakes
through runoff and groundwater through leaching. There are proven alternatives to this
expensive agriculture system: farmers are already fertilizing soils and protecting crops with
organic and sustainable techniques that work with nature, not against it, and can provide food
for all (Pretty et al. 2003, Badgley et al. 2007).