Biodiversity & habitat loss
Current food system practices are the primary driver of biodiversity loss due to large-scale deforestation and land use changes leading to habitat destruction. The existence of wildlife is further threatened by climate change-related extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, wildfires and droughts. Agricultural use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, excessive water and manure management is leading to pollution and depletion of water bodies. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and has the most polluted water bodies in Europe.
Why the loss of nature threatens us
Human life is dependent on nature for everything. Even modern medicine is heavily reliant on nature as it has been a source of essential medications for centuries. A decline in wildlife threatens the procurement and discovery of new drugs. In the UK over 14% of native species are facing extinction and over 40% are in decline.
Air pollution & health impacts
Food production contributes to air pollution, with agriculture being the largest producer of ammonia and other nitrogen pollutants, and contributes to ground-level ozone. Up to 30% of air pollution in UK cities comes from farming, the vast majority from animal agriculture. Air pollution is linked to multiple health conditions such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, mental health issues, and poor pregnancy outcomes. In the UK, about 29,000 to 43,000 early deaths are associated with air pollution.