[permaculture-oceania] RE: [permaculture] Costs of Conventional Agriculture

[darren at permaculture.biz]

G'day,

 

Sorry forgot about no attachments.

 

Data below in body of email:

 

http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/Y3951E/y3951e09.htm

 

 

 


The annual external costs of modern agriculture in United Kingdom, United
States of America and Germany ($ million, adjusted to 1996 prices)


Cost Category

United Kingdom

United States of America

Germany


1. Damage to Natural Capital: Water

 

 

 


 

Pesticides in sources of drinking water

187

921

90


 

Nitrate, phosphate and soil in sources of drinking water

110

1 267

+


 

Zoonoses (esp. Cryptosporidium) in sources of drinking water

36

+

+


 

Eutrophication, pollution incidents, fish deaths, monitoring costs

26

265

51


2. Damage to Natural Capital: Air

 

 

 


 

Emissions of methane, ammonia, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide

1 733

17 028

1 752


3. Damage to Natural Capital: Soil

 

 

 


 

Off-site damage caused by erosion

22

 

+


 

flooding, blocked ditches and lost water storage

 

3 561

 


 

damage to industry, navigation and fisheries

 

8 978

 


 

Organic matter and carbon dioxide losses from soils

128

+

+


4. Damage to Natural Capital: Biodiversity and Landscape

 

 

 


 

Biodiversity/wildlife losses

39

340

6


 

Hedgerows and drystone wall losses

154

+

+


 

Bee colony losses and damage to domestic pets

3

237

2


5. Damage to Human Health: Pesticides

12

137

14


6. Damage to Human Health: Nitrate

0

+

+


7. Damage to Human Health: Microorganisms / Disease Agents

 

 

 


 

Bacterial and viral outbreaks in food

263

+

+


 

BSE and new variant CJD

946

+

+


 

Overuse of antibiotics

+

+

+


Total annual external costs

3 650

32 762

1 917


Total costs per hectare of arable and grassland

324

76

111


Costs per hectare of arable only

355

106

259


Costs per kg of pesticide active ingredient

13.4

3.4

6.1


+ = cost estimates not yet calculated (or available).

R Source: Pretty et al. (2001).Policy challenges and priorities for
internalizing the externalities of modern agriculture.
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 44 (2), 263-283

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:permaculture-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
darren at permaculture.biz
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 7:05 PM
To: 'promoting permaculture and sustainable living in the oceania region';
'permaculture'
Cc: darren at permaculture.biz; geoff at permaculture.org.au
Subject: [permaculture] Costs of Conventional Agriculture

 

G'day,

 

 

 

I trust that this greets you and all well.

 

 

 

Was hunting around last night as part of researching today's class here in

Vietnam with government/private/ngo agricultural/forestry extension officers

and came across this data that may be of interest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours and Growing,

 

Darren J. Doherty

 

Permaculture Designer

 

Australia Felix Permaculture

 

 

 

Integrated Consultant

 

M&M's/Mars Inc.

 

 

 

Australia (Bendigo): 

 

Yeerip House

 

103 Casey St, East Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 3550

 

p. +61 3 5444 1068

 

m. +61 (0) 418 254 605 (Australian Mobile)

 

e.  <mailto:darren at permaculture.biz> darren at permaculture.biz

 

w.  <http://www.permaculture.biz/> www.permaculture.biz

 

Australia (Moriac): 

 

Dalpura 

 

15 Thielemanns Rd, Moriac, Victoria, Australia, 3240

 

p. +61 3 5266 1807

 

 

 

Viet Nam (Dong Xoai):

 

Sustainable Cacao Agroforestry Systems (SCAS) 

 

Hillside Restoration & Water/Soil Conservation Project,

 

Forest Science Sub Institute of Vietnam (FSSIV) Research Farm,

 

Huong-lo 312, Nghia Trung Commune, Bu Dang District, Binh Phuoc Province,

 

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

 

m. +84 (0) 909 861 520  (Viet Nam Mobile)

 

 <http://www.permaculture.biz/> 

 

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