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Environmental impact of agriculture

Agricultural production constitutes a significant proportion of the national economy. Therefore it substantially influences the environment and causes a large number of environmental problems:

• soil pollution and erosion;
• water pollution, both inland and the Baltic Sea; organic pollution leading to eutrofication and pollution with pesticide residues and heavy metals.
• reduction of biodiversity and degradation of rural landscapes.

During the present stage of national economic development, it is important to balance environmental requirements with the development of modern agricultural practices. Therefore environmental policy in the agricultural sector should be co-ordinated with national agricultural policies and national programmes for rural development.

Since the collapse of the socialist mass-production system of agriculture collapsed in 1990, total production has fallen by 50%. Its effect on the environment has also correspondingly decreased (see Box 18).

Box 18.

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Last updated: November 8, 1996. The information prepared by Valts Vilnitis: fuxis@varam.gov.lv