Editing Cereal (section)

=== Impacts ===

{{further|Environmental impact of agriculture}}

[[File:Harvesting Cycle 2 Thinopyrum intermedium.jpg|thumb|Harvesting [[kernza]], a [[perennial]] cereal developed in the 21st century. Because it grows back every year, farmers no longer have to till the soil.]]

Cereal production has a substantial impact on the environment. [[Tillage]] can lead to [[soil erosion]] and increased runoff.<ref name="Takken Govers Jetten 2001">{{cite journal |last1=Takken |first1=Ingrid |last2=Govers |first2=Gerard |last3=Jetten |first3=Victor |last4=Nachtergaele |first4=Jeroen |last5=Steegen |first5=An |last6=Poesen |first6=Jean |title=Effects of tillage on runoff and erosion patterns |journal=Soil and Tillage Research |publisher=Elsevier |volume=61 |issue=1–2 |year=2001 |issn=0167-1987 |doi=10.1016/s0167-1987(01)00178-7 |pages=55–60|bibcode=2001STilR..61...55T |url=https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/e336843d-68b1-461a-a8de-613b9b79321e }}</ref> Irrigation consumes large quantities of water; its extraction from lakes, rivers, or [[aquifer]]s may have [[Environmental effects of irrigation|multiple environmental effects]], such as lowering the [[water table]] and cause salination of aquifers.<ref name="Sundquist 2007">{{cite book |last=Sundquist  |first=Bruce |year=2007 |chapter=1 Irrigation overview |title=The Earth's Carrying Capacity: some literature reviews |chapter-url=http://home.windstream.net/bsundquist1/ir1.html |access-date=8 February 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217192619/http://home.windstream.net/bsundquist1/ir1.html |archive-date=17 February 2012}}</ref> [[Fertilizer]] production contributes to [[global warming]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Climate Change and Land: an IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems |last1=Mbow |first1=C. |last2=Rosenzweig |first2=C. |last3=Barioni |first3=L. G. |last4=Benton |first4=T. |last5=Herrero |first5=M. |last6=Krishnapillai |first6=M. V. |year=2019 |page=454 |chapter=Chapter 5: Food Security |display-authors=4 |chapter-url=https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/4/2019/11/08_Chapter-5.pdf}}</ref> and its use can lead to pollution and [[eutrophication]] of waterways.<ref name="Werner 2002">{{cite book |last=Werner |first=Wilfried |title=Fertilizers |chapter=6. Environmental Aspects |publisher=Wiley |year=2009 |isbn=978-3-527-30385-4 |doi=10.1002/14356007.n10_n05}}</ref> Arable farming uses large amounts of [[fossil fuel]], [[Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture|releasing greenhouse gases]] which contribute to global warming.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nabuurs |first1=G-J. |last2=Mrabet |first2=R. |last3=Abu Hatab |first3=A. |last4=Bustamante |first4=M. |display-authors=etal |chapter-url=https://ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_Chapter07.pdf |chapter=7: Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses |title=Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change |doi=10.1017/9781009157926.009 |page=750}}</ref> Pesticide usage can cause harm to wildlife, such as [[Pesticide toxicity to bees|to bees]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2018 |title=Neonicotinoids: risks to bees confirmed |url=https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/180228 |access-date=23 June 2023 |publisher=[[European Food Safety Authority]]}}</ref>