The environmental and social crises we hear about—biodiversity loss, polluted rivers, rising food prices, and climate chaos—aren’t distant threats. They’re happening now, and industrial farming is at the heart of the problem. This isn’t just about the planet; it’s about your everyday life. The food on your plate, the water from your tap, and even the air you breathe are all being shaped by farming practices that are pushing Earth’s systems to breaking point.
Scientists call these systems planetary boundaries. They are nature’s safety limits—thresholds that keep our world stable and habitable. Industrial farming has already breached six of these boundaries, including three critical ones: change in Biosphere Integrity, Land Systems Change, and the Modification of Biogeochemical Flows. These aren’t abstract ideas; they’re interconnected crises with real-world consequences for all of us.
Biodiversity Loss: The Silent Collapse
Industrial farming is wiping out life on Earth faster than ever before. Clearing forests for crops and grazing land has destroyed habitats for countless species. Pesticides and monocultures—fields of a single crop like corn or soy—have driven bees, butterflies, and birds to the brink. Over 86% of species at risk of extinction are threatened by agriculture.
What this means for us:
Without pollinators like bees, many of the fruits and vegetables we rely on could vanish. Think fewer apples, almonds, or tomatoes in your grocery store. Biodiversity also keeps ecosystems resilient—without it, natural systems like clean water and fertile soil start to fail.
Land Degradation: Turning Fertile Soil Into Dust
Over a third of the world’s soil is already degraded due to over-tilling, chemical fertilisers, and deforestation. Industrial farming strips soil of its nutrients faster than they can be replenished. Every year, we lose 68 billion tonnes of topsoil globally—soil that takes centuries to form naturally.
What this means for us:
Degraded soil produces less food. By 2050, experts predict we could see 40% less food grown globally despite a growing population. This means higher food prices and more people going hungry. Poor soils also make floods worse because they can’t absorb water effectively.
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution: Poisoning Our Water
Industrial farming relies heavily on synthetic fertilisers made from nitrogen and phosphorus to boost crop yields. But these chemicals don’t stay in the fields—they run off into rivers and oceans, causing algal blooms that suffocate aquatic life. The Gulf of Mexico alone has a “dead zone” the size of New Jersey due to agricultural runoff.
What this means for us:
Polluted water supplies lead to higher treatment costs and health risks like nitrate poisoning in infants. Dead zones in oceans mean fewer fish for us to eat—and higher seafood prices at markets.
The Domino Effect: How These Crises Are Interconnected
These boundaries don’t exist in isolation—they’re deeply interconnected:
- Clearing forests (land degradation) releases carbon dioxide (climate change) while destroying habitats (biodiversity loss).
- Fertiliser runoff (nitrogen pollution) kills marine life, reducing oceans’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide (climate change).
- Degraded soils require more fertilisers to grow crops, worsening nutrient pollution.
This creates a vicious cycle where one problem accelerates another, pushing Earth closer to ecological collapse.
How It’s Already Affecting You
You might think these issues only matter to farmers or environmentalists—but they’re already impacting everyday life:
- Rising food prices: As soils degrade and yields drop, basic staples like bread or rice become more expensive.
- Water shortages: Agriculture uses 70% of global freshwater supplies. In drought-prone areas, this leaves less water for drinking or washing.
- Health risks: Air pollution from factory farms causes respiratory problems in nearby communities.
- Climate instability: Extreme weather events—floods, droughts, heatwaves—are becoming more frequent due to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming.
What Can Be Done?
The good news is that solutions exist—and they’re not just for farmers; they involve all of us.
1. Regenerative Farming
Regenerative practices work with nature rather than against it:
- Plant diversity: Cover crops like crimson clover or phacelia enrich soils naturally while supporting pollinators.
- No-till farming: Avoiding ploughing preserves soil structure and reduces erosion.
- Agroforestry: Integrating trees with crops stabilises soil, absorbs carbon dioxide, and provides habitats for wildlife.
This way of working with land is nothing new, it’s be practiced for centuries all across the world. Listen to Lyla June–a Diné musician, scholar and cultural historian–tell you about the Indigenous practices of her People (Diné) to restore the land.
2. Smarter Food Choices
Your diet can drive change:
- Eat less meat: Livestock farming uses far more land and water than plant-based foods.
- Grow your own: No matter how small the space, every herb, vegetable, or fruit you cultivate reduces reliance on industrial farming and reconnects you with nature.
- Eat what’s in season: Choosing local, in-season produce reduces carbon emissions, supports biodiversity, ensures fresher, tastier food and supports farmers.
- Waste less food: A third of all food produced globally is wasted—cutting waste reduces pressure on farmland.
3. Policy Changes
Governments must step up:
- Ban harmful pesticides that kill pollinators. Write to your elected officials to ensure a complete ban on these toxic chemicals (novel entities).
- Incentivise farmers to adopt regenerative practices.
- Protect forests and wetlands from agricultural expansion.
I AM IMPACT
Every time you choose what to eat or where to shop, you’re shaping the future of our planet. By supporting sustainable farming practices and making conscious choices about what’s on your plate, you can be part of the solution.
The crises caused by industrial farming aren’t just environmental—they’re personal. They affect your food, your water, your health, and your wallet. But together, we can turn things around. Because you are impact—and every choice you make matters more than ever before.