Agriculture and Environment: Wheat

Introduction

There are three main areas where the impacts of wheat production can be reduced. For the most part, habitat conversion is not a major issue at this time, and the elimination of subsidies would address this problem. However, the development of genetically modified wheat could greatly extend the range of wheat production into areas that had previously not been farmed.

The areas where greatest improvement could take place that would make wheat production more sustainable are practices that not only reduce soil degradation and loss but actually build it over time.

Similarly, practices that decrease water use and water-based pollution would reduce the impacts of wheat production and make it more viable in the long term.