Final answer:
The change to food production has led to impacts on world hunger, health and welfare, land use and habitats, as well as water quality and availability. It has also significantly affected energy use and contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
There have been numerous consequences of the change to food production that have affected various aspects of life. One of the immediate impacts has been world hunger; industrial food production has allowed for greater quantities of food, but not necessarily an equitable distribution of it. Another significant consequence is related to health and welfare, as the reliance on industrial agriculture involves the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which have raised concerns about their long-term health effects.
Thirdly, land use and habitats have been heavily influenced by modern agricultural practices. The transition to industrial farming has caused a shift in land use patterns, leading to deforestation and reduction in biodiversity. Furthermore, the intensive use of water in large-scale agriculture affects both water quality and availability. The heavy reliance on irrigation has led to the depletion of rivers and aquifers, and the runoff from farms pollutes waterways.
Lastly, the change to food production is closely tied to energy use and production. The modern agricultural sector is energy-intensive, predominantly relying on fossil fuels for farm machinery, transport, and synthetic fertilizers, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.