Food and the environment Available to Purchase

In less developed countries there are chronic food shortages and scarcity of arable land and water, coupled with increasing population. Widespread irrigation permits more intensive agriculture, but fertility is decreased and outbreaks of fluorosis and arsenic poisoning have occurred. Use of modern fertilizers causes soil mineral deficiency,including that of zinc. Iodine deficiency has caused outbreaks of goitre. Increased fertilizer use leads to an unacceptably high concentration of nutrients and potential toxins in rivers and lakes. Industrial effluent also poses a serious problem.