Identify the effects of agro-industrialization and changes in international production and consumption on the physical environment.
Agro-industrialisation is defined as the industrialisation of a developing country's agricultural yields (for example: their crops). Interestingly, agro-industrialisation is seen as a negative thing, because of the exploitation of a country's raw materials and resources.
A case study which conceptualises the negative effects of agro-industrialisation is how the consumption of flowers in the UK is industrialising Kenya's agricultural yields and emptying its rivers. This article from The Guardian perfectly encapsulates what is happening in Kenya.
Some disadvantages are:
- River Ngiro in Kenya is a river that provides water for sustenance farmers as well as industrial farmers who eventually export to the UK. The water in Ngiro river has decreased so much that it is merely ankle deep; obviously not enough to sustain even a village for a decent amount of time.
- The head of water authority in Kenya is accusing the 12 largest flower firms of "stealing" up to 25% of the river's waters -- that 25% would normally cater to around 100,000 sustenance farmers.
- He also claims that "they steal [water] between 10pm and 2am" when they think that the people are sleeping.
- The river is now 60 miles short of what it used to be.
- There is a 100km stretch of the river which is now dry, due to the large firms blocking the water flow from the mountains.
- An interesting point that was made in the article is that Kenya is one of the driest countries in the world, yet they are exporting to one of the wettest.
- Also, that a flower in 90% water, so the amount of water needed is extremely high.
- Not only has the water been decreasing, what remains of the river is now riddled with pesticides.
What has been the response?
- Authorities are currently calculating how much water is being taken by these flower firms.
- They are also locking up water outlets to prevent future theft by the flower firms.
Well, not everything can be bad right?
In this other article from The Guardian, it talks about the ethical and environmental impacts of buying flowers from Kenya, specifically on Valentine's day. There are some good things about buying flowers from Kenya:
- Increased exports of flowers in Kenya have provided jobs for 500,000 people and more than 1 million people are employed through auxiliary jobs.
- Carbon emissions in Kenya and waaaay less that England. Kenya's carbon footprint is 0.2 tonnes per year, whilst England's is 9.3 tonnes per year. That is only 0.1% of England's carbon footprint.
