Poisoning our Food and Killing the Coral
I came across some disturbing news today that reinforces all of the million reasons we already have to denounce irresponsible agriculture that uses pesticides and herbicides. Before this kind of food poisons our bodies, growing it poisons our land. And when it rains, that poison lands itself in our oceans and waterways.
 The brown, green and aqua colors are the runoff against the blue, which is the reef itself. Image credit: CSIRO/GeoScience Australia |
The latest victim is the Great Barrier Reef, which is acknowledged as one of the world’s most important natural assets. It’s the largest natural feature on earth stretching more than 2,300km along the northeast coast of Australia from the northern tip of Queensland to just north of Bundaberg.
Sadly, a recent series of satellite photos obtained by CSIRO scientists show over 135 kilometers of pesticides, herbicides and other micropollutant-ridden plumes extending offshore.
Recent studies have shown that even miniscule amounts of agricultural chemicals are so poisonous to coral that it can prevent spawning, therefore hindering the reef’s ability to regenerate and protect itself.
CSIRO scientist Arnold Dekker calls this “a good example of nature being a bit more complex than we think” and states that “it’s a no-brainer to say that if farmers are helped to farm as smart as possible, using as little fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides as possible, and only using what vegetation will take up, then you will have much less run-off of this material.”
A no-brainer indeed.
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