Agriculture is defined as all activities within arable farming, cattle farming, horticulture, offshore fishing, forest management en public green management.
Agricultural activities result in major environmental pressure through:
- emissions of acidifying and eutrophying substances (e.g. ammonia, nitrogen and phosphates),
- use of pesticides,
- emissions of other substances into the air and water (e.g. greenhouse gases, particulate matter),
- use of scarce space,
- use of water and energy.
The response of the government and the agricultural sector itself to resolve environmental problems is also considered. Which measures are taken to work in a more environmentally friendly way?
Figure: Share of agriculture in the environmental pressure of various themes (Flanders, 2007) (click on the figure to enlarge it)