THE INTERACTIONS OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

The accelerating consumption of natural resources has caused significant economic growth and improved financial conditions in industrial countries, but destroys the forests, soil, air, water and the biological diversity of the Earth. By ecologically overloading our planet, economic development is becoming self-destructive. Many scientists believe that this tendency can even threaten the existence of mankind. At international levels, the condition of Hungary’s natural environment is considered average, and it is gradually improving. However, the environmental condition of the Earth is continually deteriorating and this process is accelerating. The main factors in environment pollution are industrial production, transportation and energy production, but littering and sewage are also significant. The special pollution of the different sectors of the agricultural economy, particularly industrial output, cannot be neglected either. There are complex interactions between the natural environment and agricultural production. The damaging effects of agricultural industries are mainly due to overusing fertilisers and pesticides. Animal husbandry pollutes the environment with liquid manure and chemicals, while power machines cause air pollution, soil compression, and oil and fuel pollution, also damaging the environment. Ecological and integrated farming is less harmful to the environment, so the new agricultural model can lead us to sustainable agricultural development. Sustainable development is indispensable to preserving the natural environment. It would make it possible to use and, at the same time, preserve natural resources on global, regional (national) and local levels. The aim of subsidies should also be the creation of a ‘liveable countryside’. In Hungary, the National Environmental Protection Programme was introduced in order to encourage sustainable development and reduce environment pollution. One of its sub-programmes, the National Agricultural Environmental Protection Programme helps support environmentally friendly farming.