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Coffee is one of the world's favorite drinks. In fact, 12.6% of the world's population (roughly one billion people) drink coffee daily, according to Balance Coffee. But this figure has a hidden cost: consumption at this scale leaves a significant carbon footprint.
Coffee production is altering rainforest ecosystems, which negatively affects plant and animal species living within.
And here's the kicker: the entire lifecycle of coffee, including cultivation, processing, packaging, and brewing, is leading to global deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.
Besides widespread deforestation, cultivation of the cocoa bean impacts climate change and disease control. The industry is also marred by ethical issues. According to the Food Empowerment Project, child labor and even slavery is rampant on many cocoa farms.
Cocoa is used in the production of chocolate, one of the world's favorite sweet treats. In the US alone, sales of chocolate in 2023 hit record highs of approximately US$52.9 billion, according to Statista.
Production of cocoa, however, has driven deforestation in nearly every country where it is produced, as rainforests are cut down to make way for cocoa monoculture. This is especially so in West Africa, where an estimated 70% of the world's cocoa beans are grown.
The biggest single negative factor in wheat production is the use of fertilizer to grow the crop, which accounts for 43% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study published by the journal Nature Plants.
Wheat has been a staple of civilization for over 1,000 years. But breaking bread has come at a significant cost to the environment: wheat's global footprint is colossal, covering an area as big as Greenland.
Wheat grain yields also impact the frequency and severity of wind and water erosion risk (due to low crop stubble biomass). To counter this effect, it's necessary to retain more stubble so the risk of erosion is lessened. Doing this also conserves soil moisture and organic matter to sustain crop production.
Banana production affects the environment in a myriad of ways. Numerous problems arise from the cultivation of this popular fruit, not least the intensive use of agrochemicals, which not only devastate ecosystems but also pose significant health risks to workers.
Habitat conversion, soil erosion and degradation, and water contamination are also blamed on damage caused by the production of bananas.
And from a corporate standpoint, the large-scale commercial production of bananas for local markets and the pursuit of lower prices and cost-cutting measures by some companies has exacerbated unfair trading practices and poor working conditions.
Sugarcane production is blamed for polluting seawater and freshwater ecosystems with silt and fertilizers washed from farms, as well as plant matter and chemical sludge from mills.
Brazil, India, China, Thailand, Mexico, Pakistan, and Australia number among the top-producing sugarcane countries. It's a global industry occupying approximately 65 million acres (26 million hectares) worldwide. And therein lies the problem.
These massive quantities of contaminants absorb all available oxygen, leading to massive fish kills and the destruction of coral habitats. The Great Barrier Reef and Mesoamerican Reef have both suffered damage as a direct result of sugarcane production, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Rice was first domesticated in the Yangtze River basin in China 13,500 to 8,200 years ago. It's a primary food source that sustains billions of people worldwide. However, the cultivation of this global staple has had a dramatic effect on the environment.
Rice uses vast amounts of water and degrades soil and water quality, accelerating climate change and ecosystem degradation.
As an essential crop, rice contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, around 8% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions are produced by growing rice globally. That's roughly equivalent to the emissions from 1,200 coal-fired power stations, according to global analysis released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
Furthermore, cotton uses 6% of the world's pesticides and 16% of all insecticides—which is more than any other crop. That's according to data published by Project Cece.
The global market for cotton is huge. It's the most widely grown and profitable non-food crop worldwide. But it's a thirsty crop. In fact, some experts contend that cotton is the largest user of water among all agricultural commodities.
Growing cotton also has a detrimental effect on the environment in so far as cultivation leads to severe soil erosion and habitat conversion.
Corn, also known as maize, is cultivated globally as a cereal grain. It was first domesticated around 9,000 years ago, and has always been water-intensive.
Corn production's reliance on vast amounts of water has often led to the the overuse and subsequent depletion of valuable groundwater sources, such as aquifers. This is especially so in drier, more arid regions.
The prevalent use of fertilizers in the corn production process serves as an additional factor when determining the crop's negative effect on the environment. The activity releases harmful nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.
Soybean is the most important protein source for livestock. As such, only around 7% of this crop is given over for consumption by humans, in things like tofu, soymilk, miso, and tempeh.
Soy is a crop that's intensively cultivated. This in turn draws on a high demand for resources, things like energy, water, agrochemicals, and soil.
Other sustainability issues surrounding soybean cultivation include the crop's extensive land usage, which can have a direct impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
To say that palm oil is divisive is an understatement. It's been called the world's most hated crop because of its association with deforestation in Southeast Asia.
As the World Wildlife Fund notes, "large-scale conversion of tropical forests to oil palm plantations has a devastating impact on a huge number of plant and animal species."
While its economic benefits are appreciated (palm oil is found in products as diverse as cookies, margarine, soap, and shampoo), the widespread cultivation of this controversial crop has promoted greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity on a truly monumental scale.
Sources: (Balance Coffee) (Statista) (National Wildlife Federation) (Food Empowerment Project) (World Wildlife Fund) (EDF) (Project Cece)
We take for granted some of our most important crops, things like rice, wheat, and corn. But cultivating these crops and others like them often comes at a huge cost to the environment. In fact, the repercussions of producing certain crops can be profound. The damage caused is devastating, with deforestation and biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water pollution often the result of unsustainable farming practices.
This all said, which are the 10 most problematic crops, and why? Click through to find out more about the crops that are destroying our planet.
The environmental cost of growing these crops
We must choose between agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability
LIFESTYLE Agriculture
We take for granted some of our most important crops, things like rice, wheat, and corn. But cultivating these crops and others like them often comes at a huge cost to the environment. In fact, the repercussions of producing certain crops can be profound. The damage caused is devastating, with deforestation and biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water pollution often the result of unsustainable farming practices.
This all said, which are the 10 most problematic crops, and why? Click through to find out more about the crops that are destroying our planet.