Farming: "The Seed From Which Everything Grows"

I just wanted to follow on from my last post about the origins of farming and to touch on the significance of agriculture in our society, as this may help in explaining why it is so important that we understand how agriculture is influencing our society and our environment.

This very short video clip by the award-winning (which must mean it's good!) History series gives a little insight into the significance of the birth of agriculture, and the importance of farming in developing today's societies. As suggested in this video, farming is the most important ingredient in human civilisation. It allowed us to utilise the surrounding environment in a way never possible before, and we see this continuing today through agricultural revolutions, mechanisation and intensification.

The importance and centrality of agriculture to human populations is unrivalled, and with this the significance of agriculturally-induced environmental change is amplified. If an industry and practice we rely on is damaging our environment, and especially if this is to the detriment of future populations, action must be taken. I will be exploring some of these environmental changes in upcoming posts.