Everyone knows about carbon emissions, dumping trash on the ocean, deforestation etc. What are the lesser known environmental disasters?

  • Dingus_Khan [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    In the US at least: topsoil and soil health in general. Decades of intensive industrialized agriculture that seek profit over long term sustainability have us sleepwalking into a second dust bowl

    • sgtlion [any]
      ·
      edit-2
      3 years ago

      I've seen repeated studies that modern fruit and vegetables have far fewer vitamins and nutrients than they did 50 years ago. Theory being this is due to intensive soil-depletion, and yet another reason we need to reconsider more localised farming methods.

      I did wonder how we need to eat like a ton of different vegetables nowadays to just get our basic nutrient needs met, my personal suspicion is this is why.

      • Dingus_Khan [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Big part of it too is selection of varieties over the years towards ones that store or ship better. As one selects for those traits usually taste and nutrition suffer. This is why the red delicious apple was ubiquitous for years despite being a garbage fruit

        • bigboopballs [he/him]
          ·
          3 years ago

          the red delicious apple was ubiquitous for years despite being a garbage fruit

          fuckin truth

      • Coca_Cola_but_Commie [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        more localised farming methods

        BRING BACK VILLAGES. MASS DEURBANIZATION. RETURN TO PEASANT. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR YEARS, FOLKS. GARY WHO USED TO RUN THE MATTRESS STORE WILL BE MY LIEGE LORD.

    • TerminalEncounter [she/her]
      ·
      3 years ago

      I think they're saying at current business as usual use for top soil, there are 50 or 60 harvests left.

        • TerminalEncounter [she/her]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Yeah I think so, but I know Hay and Rice can sometimes be double cropped. Pretty sure most cropland is only once a year though.