Horticulture and The Environment

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Horticulture interacts with the environment in many different ways. This chapter discusses three aspects: firstly the exploitation and degradation of natural resources (land, water); secondly, the use of, and generation of pollution from, synthetic resources (energy, fertilizer and pesticides); and thirdly, the visual and cultural impact of horticultural infrastructure. Horticultural production, in comparison to other agricultural sectors, occupies a small land area but due to its intensity of production, its environmental impact can be relatively greater. Access to, and management, of water resources is the aspect of greatest concern since loss of water resources, deterioration of water quality and pollution of surface water with pesticide residues, nitrates and phosphates are detrimental to both horticultural production and the wider environment. Land use and acidification are important locally but unlike the emission of greenhouse gases, are less important at the global scale. Intensive horticultural production can be responsible for both environmental and visual pollution but they are generally small-scale in global terms and any adverse impacts should be viewed in the context of the benefits that the industry provides in terms of economics, social employment and improved diets and health.