Final answer:
Industrial agriculture has led to ecological problems like human health risks, soil erosion, desertification, water pollution, decreased biodiversity, pesticide issues, and a reduction in soil productivity. The negative impacts are particularly consequential in developing countries where smallholder farmers face challenges adapting to climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental consequences related to industrial agriculture often lead to a variety of ecological problems. The impact on human health from practices such as the sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animal production and contamination of food and water by pesticides are areas of active investigation and concern. Soil erosion, desertification, and the pollution of water supplies due to agricultural practices are just a few of the negative ecological effects. These include loss of soil productivity, water quality issues like eutrophication and "dead zones," as well as the cultivation of pesticide-resistant pests. Industrial agriculture also leads to a reduction in biodiversity due to habitat loss when land is cleared.
While there were initial benefits to yields during the Green Revolution, the long-term effects of modern farming practices with pesticides have been detrimental in some developing countries, leaving traditional farmers with compromised soil and agricultural outputs. Furthermore, societal responses to the environmental consequences of agriculture impact smallholder farmers, especially in developing countries where adaptation to climate changes is a major concern. To meet increasing agricultural demands, improvements in productivity and efficiency of agriculture are needed, which must be achieved without further damaging the natural resource base.