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Dynamic development of modern agriculture, intensive livestock industry and yield maximization measures in the face of limited and definite agricultural area give rise not only to economic opportunities, but also to serious risks for the natural environment of the Baltic Sea. Intensive and unsustainable livestock production and its contribution to the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea as well as the inland water courses and reservoirs have become one of the most serious challenges in environmental protection of the Baltic Sea catchment basin.
The gravity of the problem is evidenced by the growing concern of agricultural and environmental authorities as well as owners of large-scale livestock farms, decision-makers at municipal, governmental and international level (EU-wide), agricultural self-governing bodies, agricultural associations, agricultural advisory bodies, agricultural research centres, agricultural universities and schools, as well as local communities in regions where large-scale livestock farms are located, to whom this paper is essentially addressed.
The significance of the effects of intensive livestock production on the environment of the Baltic Sea is also made clear by references to these issues made in the key legal acts and strategic documents on environmental protection of the Baltic Sea, such as the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (HELCOM), or Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region (Baltic 21). These documents determine Baltic Sea Region countries' international obligations in the area of environmental protection of the Baltic Sea in the context of agricultural activities, demanding some concrete measures to be taken.
In the light of these documents, sustainable agriculture appears to be the only solution, reconciling the needs of the present and future generations.This idea was born out of very pragmatic assumptions defined by a much broader notion of sustainable (lasting) development, safeguarding both environmental and social interests. Many examples from all over the world can be provided to demonstrate that preventing disruptions in and the future redevelopment of environmental homeostasis are perfectly feasible and that agricultural activities and the needs of the natural environment are not mutually exclusive. Sustainable agriculture has long ceased to impede progressive plant growing and livestock farming, but has become a stimulus defining specific direction, speed and framework for their development.
In consideration of the scale and intensification of livestock production, as well as the livestock density, it appears obvious that large-scale animal production installations exert a significant effect on the natural environment and local communities. It is widely believed that large-scale livestock production has no chance of being environmentally friendly, which is, at least in many cases, confirmed in practice. What is the scale of intensive livestock industry in the Baltic Sea Region? Is it possible to have sustainable large-scale agricultural production? Are there any methods to prevent negative impact of industrial livestock farming to make it, if not friendly, than perhaps neutral to the natural environment? The authors of this webpage will explore these questions, looking for possible answers.
Baltic Sea (NASA, 2004)