How Intensive Farming Is Driving Tropical Deforestation

Most of us can own up to being guilty of overconsumption in one way or another, and it seems that this bad habit is posing quite a threat to our planet. The rising demand for food, in particular, has caused intensive farming across the globe, leading to the destruction of precious green spaces while also putting a strain on natural resources.

Contrary to popular belief, our rising population is not the source of the problem, but rather, overconsumption. Our planet could accommodate every living being on earth if humans did not farm so intensively and give back so little.

It is heartbreaking to see hectares upon hectares of forest land destroyed year after year. Since 1990, it is estimated that 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses such as the beef and palm oil industries. A small victory to acknowledge is that the rate of deforestation has decreased over the past three decades, but more work can and needs to be done. Otherwise, we will have to face the terrible repercussions of severe forest loss.

The reoccurring culprits that are to blame for the majority of tropical deforestation include palm oil, soy, beef, and wood.

Palm oil is found in countless household items from cleaning products to convenience foods. It's the most commonly used vegetable oil due to its versatility and efficiency. The rising demand has resulted in palm oil being the material contributing to the most global warming emissions besides beef.

Soybeans are rising in demand, also. It’s a plant food that is commonly used as agricultural animal feed; almost 80% of the world’s soybean crop is fed to livestock. In the last 50 years, the production of soy has grown tenfold, from 27 to 269 million tons. 

You have likely already heard about the destructive consequences of overfarming beef in news headlines and in social media discussions. Many people in developing countries now have disposable income, which is great; however, this has come at a cost and led to the rising demand for beef. Cattle ranching is currently responsible for 80% of current deforestation rates in the Amazon.