FARMERS PROVE SUSTAINABILITY: REPORT SHOWS BIG CROP EFFICIENCY GAINS IN RESOURCE USE, CONSERVATION AND EMISSIONS

摘要

America's major crops are produced with less impact on land, energy and inputs over the last 30 years, according to a new report released by Field to Market, the Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. This 2012 report that studies environmental and socioeconomic indicators from 1980 to 2011 demonstrates how increased production to meet growing demand also improvec overall resource use by crops. All six crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice and potatoes) improved resource use/impact per unit of production on land use, soil erosion, irrigation water use, energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For example, soil erosion per unit of production has improved (decreased) by 47-67%, and energy use and GHG emissions per unit of production have decreased between 15% and more than 42% for all crops, the study finds. Efficiency improvements were driven, at least in part, by 25-64% crop yield improvements.