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