Industrial Agriculture has been a driving force behind the development of modern agriculture and related fields. Further, the advancement in agriculture (modern agriculture) has some negative consequences as environmental degradation and a decline in the nutritional quality of food. One of modern agriculture’s most common and lethal effects is hidden hunger, a type of malnutrition caused by a lack of essential vitamins and minerals.
Background
Human beings have always sought to improve their living standards, whether through better food, shelter, or other basic needs. Over time, advances in technology and innovation have led to significant improvements in agriculture. However, the use of different technologies in agriculture caused some rapid negative consequences to rise. One of the most serious consequences is the prevalence of hidden hunger and malnutrition, which affects millions of people around the world.
Hunger and Hidden Hunger
Hunger is a state of discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a lack of food. Whereas, hidden hunger, on the other hand, is a type of malnutrition caused by a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. Unlike hunger, hidden hunger may not be immediately apparent, but it can have serious long-term effects on health.
Effects of Industrial Agriculture on the Environment
Industrial agriculture prevails over the cost of the environment. It significantly decreased the environment through emitting more greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields, deforestation, and the destruction of habitats have all contributed to a decline in biodiversity. Industrial agriculture has also led to the decline of animal diversity, as the farming practice is based on monoculture where high use of chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides) replace the natural ecosystems. Their leaching negatively affects the groundwater, air and beneficial micro-organisms in the soil.
Industrial Agriculture and Hidden Hunger
The decline in the nutritional quality of food is a major contributor to hidden hunger. Modern farming practices, such as monoculture crops, have led to a significant decrease in the nutrient content of food. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers can also affect soil quality and the nutritional value of crops. In addition, industrial processing can remove essential vitamins and minerals from food, leading to a decline in overall nutritional value which is one of the major causes of hidden hunger.
Furthermore, hidden hunger has significance for human health particularly in developing countries, where poverty hampers the access of basic food requirements to humans. Additionally, industrial agriculture also has a significant impact on developed countries. As these countries have become more industrialized, more use of industrially processed food may have a lack of essential vitamins and nutrients lost during processing leading to a problem of hidden hunger compared to the utilization of natural food products.
Possible solutions
Addressing hidden hunger requires a multifaceted approach that takes into account the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to the above-mentioned problem. Some possible solutions may include:
1. Revisiting the agricultural practices:
The use of sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation; intercropping, and organic farming, can improve the soil quality and increase the nutritional content of crops to cope with hidden hunger.
2. Awareness:
Educating people about the importance of a balanced diet and the need for essential vitamins and minerals can help to raise awareness about hidden hunger.
3. Supporting small-scale farmers:
Governmental support to small-scale farmers can also have positive results in order to improve farmers’ income.
4. Access to healthcare:
Opportunity based on access to healthcare for every citizen in developing countries is essential to address the hidden hunger challenges in this modern era. Moreover, the use of versatile food items in daily routine can also help to mitigate hidden hunger problems.
Conclusion
Industrial agriculture has brought many benefits to humans in this modern era, but it has also had serious negative effects like hidden hunger. Coping with the challenge of hidden hunger requires multifaceted approaches. And, promoting sustainable agricultural practices with Governmental support to farmers, spreading the nutritional importance and access to healthcare could possibly reduce hidden hunger and improve human and soil health attributes worldwide.
Hafiz Abdul Wahab, Imran Khan, Muhammad Umer Chattha, Rizwan Maqbool and Muhammad Talha Aslam
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
