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INTENSIVE FARMING AND ITS EFFECTS ON POPULATION HEALTH - ALTERNATIVES

S. A. Toderasc, I.C.Todirica, B. C.Chiripuci

Abstract

Agriculture has been the main occupational branch since the beginning of civilization. The term of agriculture is defined as the process of producing animal and plant food by cultivating certain plants and livestock farming for human consumption. This activity provides most of the food that the population consumes. In the last decades, the term organic farming has emerged as an alternative to intensive conventional farming. Intensive agriculture has led to considerable increases in production relative to the area cultivated. This comes as a result of the use of genetically modified organisms, high productivity hybrids, and the use of chemical fertilizers, bio stimulators and pesticides. Although it provides higher production, the intensive farming system has not proven to be sustainable because of the harmful effects it has on soil, air and quality raw materials implicitly on finished product destined for human consumption, all of which lead to harmful effects on population health. Consequently, the lack of consumer confidence in food safety measures and the high frequency of illnesses followed by the consumption of products with different carcinogens, allergens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria has led to the development of organic farming, a system by which it is strictly forbidden the use of food additives, chemical substances and complementary substances. The research is based on data extracted from European Union reports, the Eurostat Database. Through this research we aim to analyze in detail the increasing consumption of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in conventional agriculture and the air pollution resulting from this system compared with the allowed limit. Because the well-being and health of the population is directly influenced by the farming system used, we feel it is necessary to deepen this theme and find the balance for sustainable development.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2018/4.1/S15.006

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