Vegetable and animal-based foods are essential for healthy living. However, the entire process, from production to consumption, including distribution and waste management, must prioritize public and environmental health.
Ensuring the sustainability of the agricultural and food systems across generations is equally critical. It is widely recognized that food can be both a remedy and a source of disease, depending on its nutritional and safety qualities.
The national demand for nutritious and safe food aligns with achieving self-sufficiency through sustainable agriculture. A question frequently arises: Is the food we consume truly beneficial or merely fulfilling hunger? Unfortunately, no stakeholder can confidently answer this.
Bangladesh, historically known for its small-scale farming, developed a sustainable agri-food system rich in crops, livestock, and fisheries over centuries. Consumers never doubted its safety. However, scientific studies over the past three to four decades reveal more negatives than positives, indicating that the current agricultural and food system adversely impacts public and environmental health. This is due to its dependence on artificial fertilizers and pesticides and the excessive use of antibiotics in livestock and aquaculture.
According to ICDDR,B, 70% of deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases. One in five adults suffers from high blood pressure, and approximately 15 million people have diabetes, leading to 75,000 deaths in 2021 alone. Unknown conditions such as autoimmune diseases and Down syndrome are increasingly common, with many linked to the agricultural and food systems. A survey by the National Cancer Research Institute revealed that 64% of male cancer patients hospitalized in 2017 were involved in agriculture, and 34% of all cancer patients had ties to the profession.
Experts warn that by 2030, every household could have a cancer patient or a child with disabilities. Neither producers nor consumers are immune to the destructive effects of the current system. Pesticides and artificial fertilizers continue to introduce toxins into the food chain, posing significant risks to public health. Studies reveal excessive levels of heavy metals like cadmium in staple crops like rice and harmful contamination in vegetables like eggplants.
Many pesticides, including carbamates, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids, disrupt endocrine functions and negatively affect reproductive health. Substances like chlorpyrifos, phosphamidon, malathion, and glyphosate harm soil microorganisms and biodiversity, leading to broader ecological damage. Over the past two decades, fertilizer use has increased 4.5 times, with government subsidies rising accordingly. Herbicide use has surged 150 times annually, often under misleading practices by local distributors.
Addressing pesticide misuse requires social and behavioral changes, with women and youth playing pivotal roles. Women can raise awareness of pesticides' harmful effects among family and community members, supported by government and private training programs. Farmers forced to use pesticides should adopt safety measures like gloves and masks. Youth can act as agents of change in this transformation.
A complete overhaul of the agricultural and food system is necessary, not only at the policy level but also in practice. Policymakers must decide whether this transformation should be regenerative or a continuation of the green revolution. The green revolution, focused on increasing food production through genetic modification and synthetic inputs, resulted in monocultures that harmed biodiversity and natural resources.
In contrast, regenerative agriculture prioritizes ecological health, emphasizes local crop varieties, respects food sovereignty, and addresses climate change impacts. This sustainable approach conserves resources, enhances soil health, and protects biodiversity.
An integrated agricultural policy is essential, involving ministries like agriculture, fisheries, livestock, environment, and commerce, which often have conflicting policies. Countries like Japan, Korea, Germany, and Vietnam demonstrate effective integrated systems.
Recommendations for Action
Promote Non-toxic Practices: Encourage organic farming, proper cultivation methods, and local crop, animal, and fish varieties that are environmentally friendly and safe.
Prioritize Sustainability: Ensure public health and environmental sustainability at every stage of food production and distribution.
Reduce Chemical Subsidies: Shift subsidies from chemical fertilizers to organic alternatives and provide farmers with training and support to adopt sustainable practices.
Dignify Agriculture: Enhance the social status of farmers, potentially offering incentives like subsidized long-distance travel once a year.
Encourage Family Farming: Introduce incentives to support small-scale, family-based farming.
Invest in Research: Increase investment in research for eco-friendly, health-conscious agricultural technologies.
Raise Consumer Awareness: Launch campaigns to encourage consumers to choose safe, environmentally friendly food.
To achieve these goals, the government must lead with heart, focusing on policies that prioritize public and environmental health. Integrating health and environmental concerns into agricultural education and policy is crucial. Strict laws are needed to regulate harmful practices, ensuring the safety and sustainability of future generations.
The writer is a Researcher, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur
BDST: 1203 HRS, JAN 14, 2025
