Corporate Social Responsibility through Sustainable Greenhouse Farming

Corporate Social Responsibility through Sustainable Greenhouse Farming

Sustainable farming methods are the ideal ways through which agricultural organizations can engage in Corporate Social Responsibility. The dynamic nature of the business world has led to the massive competition among business organizations. Different firms engage in diverse undertakings, which will allow them to adapt to the current business needs and, at the same time, maximize their sole objective that is profit. However, maximizing profit is not the only objective that businesses pursue. Other goals involve coming up with the best products, attaining market targets, and realizing return from investments. Also, it is the responsibility of the business to promote the social welfare of the community. An organization’s success is impossible without the support of its stakeholders and, more so, members of the community in which it is situated. It is the understanding of the significant impact an organization’s stakeholders play in the business’s success that many companies have adopted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It is defined as the ability of a business organization to conduct its activities ethically, thereby promoting the economic status of the region it is located and, at the same time, engaging in events that seek to improve the quality of life of community members where it is based. An example of a CSR project in the agricultural sector is to adopt sustainable greenhouse farming. In the paper, sustainable greenhouse farming, its contribution to revolutionizing agriculture, and its impact on Corporate Social Responsibility are highlighted.

Sustainable farming requires using agricultural practices that do not expose the environment to any kind of destruction, thereby making it possible to be used by future generations. The agricultural sector has a significant impact on the sort of environmental damage which occurs in the world. Current forms of farming practices have seen the emergence of sophisticated farm inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers, which harm the environment. Other causes of environmental pollution arising from the agricultural sector include contaminated water, poor livestock nutrition resulting from animals lacking natural foods, and soil erosion from poor farming practices (Chen p 258). Pollution from the agricultural sector leads to a series of adverse effects such as the rise in cases of health complications among human beings and the death of both aquatic and on-land biodiversity.

Sustainable agriculture is an innovation that seeks to end the various challenges realized in several agricultural practices by adopting farming methods which not only leads to increased food production but also improves the quality of the environment where production takes place. An increase in the demand for food means that human beings are working hard to increase agricultural production. The world’s population is estimated to reach 8.5 billion people in the year 2030 (Fischer p 2). It, therefore, means that we have to adopt intensive agricultural practices to avail food to the ever-growing population. However, availing food does not mean that people should deplete existing agricultural resources at the expense of future generations. On the contrary, the statistics call for human beings to demonstrate ethical concerns in regards to those who will come after us by adopting farming practices that are friendly to the environment.

Greenhouses technologies have been enhanced with several criteria to save water. It is projected that the growing population will put much strain on the world’s water reserves. About 70% of the world’s water is spent on agricultural activities (Molden, p 4). However, the growing number of people will mean that water will be a scarce resource in the future. Knowledge of water scarcity, therefore, makes it necessary for useful farming innovations that save water be embraced. Greenhouse farming has revolutionized farming in that it has led to people using less water and, at the same time producing more yields. The facilities are built with several innovations that reserve water as well as preventing any natural factors that contribute to the massive loss of water. For instance, the greenhouse cover entraps moisture emerging from within. Also, it diffuses the solar radiation, which hits the greenhouse preventing loss of water from plants through evaporation. Moreover, the materials blocks wind from carrying away water particles. Another factor that leads to greenhouse saving water is its reusability nature under such farming practices. Hydroponic farming, for instance, does not rely on soils to provide the plants with any kind of support (Son, Hak and Tae p 273). On the contrary, plants are availed with the necessary nutrients they require through a water solution. The technology allows the greenhouses to recycle water for different planting cycles, thereby reducing water loss. Practical water saving skills in agricultural production have been showcased in the Netherlands. Despite its small size, the nation is considered the second-largest exporter of agricultural produce. Water consumption for principal crops in the nation’s greenhouses have been reduced by almost 90% (Kabat p 283). The greenhouse facilities take advantage of running waters, which are directed into ponds for irrigation purposes. The same applies to rainwater. The efficient use of water is seen in greenhouses adopting a computerized water piping system that attends to specific water demands for each crop. As a result, plants such as tomatoes are fed with the relevant water quantity, as seen in their longer life.

Greenhouse technology is also enhanced by a carbon dioxide system that recaptures the gas for reuse within the facilities. Carbon dioxide is considered a critical component of greenhouses as it is needed to provide a warm environment for crops to prosper. Also, the gas is necessary for photosynthesis to take place in the plants. Large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are disastrous to the environment as it leads to the destruction of the ozone layer paving the way for several health-related complications such as cancer. Also, carbon dioxide is responsible for increasing the earth’s temperature, thus propelling the rate of global warming. The ability of greenhouses to trap carbon dioxide within it its facilities lower the amount which is released into the atmosphere. Also, farmers have come up with innovative ways to produce the carbon dioxide needed for their greenhouses. Traditionally, farmers relied on fossil fuels to generate the energy required for carbon dioxide production. However, the emphasis has been put on the use of renewable forms of energy to pump the greenhouse gases which produce carbon dioxide. A key leader in the use of renewable energy is Iceland, which produces its crops using 100% green energy to heat its greenhouses. Apart from carbon dioxide regulation, greenhouses also use waste products from their production activities and channel them into energy production. This, in turn, lowers the amount of waste released into the environment. Greenhouse facilities such as Houwelling tomatoes, in Mona, Utah, rely on solar panels to generate the necessary energy needed to pump and regulate the facilities’ climate (Carruthers p 5).

The greenhouse technology has also made it possible for people to carry out agriculture throughout the year. Also, it has made it possible for farming to take place in any location regardless of the kind of weather the area experiences. Greenhouses are equipped with necessary technologies that provide optimal conditions for the growth of different crops. Often, environmental factors deter agricultural activities during different times of the year. Farmers relying on open-field production are thus forced to monitor and plan their planting seasons according to the weather pattern. The result of such strategies is less food yield as production is not continuous. Greenhouses, on the other hand, are depicted as providing optimal conditions for the growth of different crops throughout the entire year. For instance, the houses provide a warmer environment for plants requiring warmth during winter. In summer, the greenhouses are adjusted to offer humid conditions for the crops. The optimal nature of greenhouses is further seen in their ability to support agricultural practices in areas perceived not to favor the growth and rearing crops and livestock, respectively. The optimal conditions provide by greenhouses for both plants and animals throughout the year, therefore, means that food production will increase as there are no instances where agricultural activities have to be halted due to bad weather or unfavorable conditions. Moreover, greenhouse facilities produce more yields than open-field production. The facilities take advantage of farming efficiencies with the use of limited resources to maximize agricultural output, thereby satisfying the rising demand for food. High-tech greenhouse facilities are regarded to produce 24 times more tomatoes production compared to open field output per acre (Specht et al. p 33).

The greenhouse production system has also realized the low use of artificial farm inputs, which have adverse effects on both human beings and the environment. For instance, crops grown under greenhouses require a little number of pesticides. Greenhouses are equipped with proper materials that prevent several pests from attacking the plants. For example, the structures are reinforced with a netting system that is meant to prevent pest entry into the greenhouse. Control of pests by preventing them from entering the greenhouse, therefore, suggests that little amount of pesticides will be used in farming. The same applies when it comes the different kinds of insecticides that are used in preventing various insects and diseases which affect the animals. In the Netherlands, for instance, poultry and livestock farmers have reduced the number of antibiotics used in their farms by 60%. The fact that greenhouses lessen the amount of pesticides and insecticides used in farming, therefore, illustrate that the technology is meant to make the world a better place by reducing the different kinds of challenges that arise from excessive use of chemicals.

Greenhouse farming also allows farmers to practice organic food production. According to Fuller (p 431), organic food production refers to an agricultural management system that enhances and promotes the earth’s bio-diversities, which include soil life and ecological cycles. The principle aim of organic farming is to engage in production activities that do not cause any harm to both human beings and the environment. Greenhouse farming has taken significant steps to ensure that the food produced meets the required standards fit for human consumption. For instance, a reduction in the number of pesticides provides an ideal avenue through which harmful chemicals reach the human body. Also, farming strategies are aligned with natural production techniques. For instance, bumblebee’s colonies have been introduced into greenhouses to help with natural pollination.

The use of greenhouse technology, therefore, illustrates the significant role it plays in enhancing agricultural sustainability. The primary objective of greenhouse technology is to increase food production to sustain the growing population. Also, it is from the practical efforts that greenhouse farming uses that the world gets closer to enhancing the social welfare of the different stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector. Adopting sustainable greenhouse farming, therefore, is viewed as an act of Corporate Social Responsibility, which can be looked at from different dimensions.

Greenhouse farming is highlighted as reducing the number of environmental wastes that arise from agricultural practices. It is the ethical mandate of any business organization to ensure it protects the environment, which allows it to engage in production activities. Taking care of the environment is seen as a responsible act for the organization to improve the social welfare of the people surrounding it by ensuring that they live in comfortable surroundings free from any health hazards. A right way through which greenhouse facilities show care of the community is through controlling waste products which are released into the environment. The use of wastes realized from greenhouse facilities acts as a preventive measure of them being channeled into the environment. Reusing different kinds of wastes to power the greenhouse boilers ensure they are not released into the environment, thereby reducing the number of pollutants to the environment. As a result, the organization shows dedication to promoting the social welfare of the community by allowing them to live in conducive surroundings with better serene.

Focus on environmental protection is further seen in the regulation of carbon dioxide gas by the greenhouse facilities. Preventing the gas from escaping into the atmosphere lowers the quantity of the gas into the skies. The fact that carbon dioxide is considered a significant contributor to global warming, therefore, makes greenhouses depict their social responsibility in lowering the number of emissions released into the environment.

Likewise, greenhouses ensure that they demonstrate social responsibility through increased food production. The world is grappling with the challenge of feeding people in different parts of the globe. The fact that only a few areas are suitable for agriculture makes it hard for adequate food to be produced. Lack of food is a significant cause of global hunger, an issue so significant that it is considered among the objectives of the global millennial goals. As the world seeks to feed the growing population, greenhouse farming emerges as one of the ideal ways through which we can realize increased food production. The ability to produce agricultural outputs throughout the year, and utilize little space to yield higher produce illustrates the social responsibility role that greenhouses play, availing the world with food. The result of increased food from greenhouse facilities is that society’s wellbeing is catered for through food availability and proper nutrition.

Another form of Social Responsibility activity by greenhouse firms is in their effective use of energy. The ethical mandate nature organizations are required to portray when it comes to using a community’s resources has seen them adopt effective means of generating energies to pump up the heat boilers. The non-renewable nature of different fossil fuels has seen greenhouses resort to using green energy in its operational activities. Green energy is considered natural and renewable. Also, it does not cause any kind of pollution in the environment. An excellent example of the use of green energy is in utilizing solar energy to power greenhouse activities. Using renewable forms of energy is an act of taking care of the community’s interest to ensure that future generations enjoy the same kind of better-quality environment, which we have had the privilege to experience.

Another social concern among greenhouses is the kind of impact that their activities have on the community’s water. Agriculture is known to consume large amounts of water, thereby stressing water reserves, which are also used by the locals. Greenhouse facilities, however, tend to balance the amount of water they spend and that left to use by communities. The facility’s innovation ensures that little amounts of water have been used, thereby not interfering with the community’s consumption. Also, the facilities spend a lot of their resources channeling running water into ponds. Moreover, recycling agricultural water, as seen in a greenhouse prevents the farm from the excessive competition with their surrounding community. The organizations’ social responsibility act is thus seen in them protecting the community’s water reservoir’s through innovative farming techniques.

Consequently, greenhouses are depicted as taking care of the health concerns of individuals. It is the responsibility of every business organization to ensure that it engages in production activities that empower the social aspects of the community. Engaging in organic farming practices is seen as an act of ensuring that people are only exposed to quality food, which does not have any negative implications on their health. Greenhouse facilities portray their responsibility of protecting people’s health by engaging in practices that lower the number of chemical inputs used in production activities. Also, they focus on organic farming practices, which allow the different kinds of biodiversities to also flourish.

To conclude, it has been elaborated that greenhouse farming is the best way to go as far as realizing sustainable agriculture is concerned. The greenhouse has been depicted as having innovations that allow maximum agricultural output and, at the same time, using efficiency production strategies that have a little negative impact on the environment. For instance, the use of greenhouses has been elaborated as quite effective in lowering the amount of water used for agricultural production. Likewise, regulation of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, use of renewable energy, agricultural waste recycling, and organic farming practices, which minimizes the use of pesticides and other chemicals, have been elaborated as the other ways through which greenhouse farming has revolutionized the agricultural sector. Also, it has been illustrated that the different innovations which have allowed the greenhouse to create a significant impact in the agricultural industry arise from their need to practice corporate social responsibility. The practice binds organizations to undertake their production activities while aligning their operations to ethical considerations which seek to promote society’s social welfare. Greenhouse farming practices enhance the community’s social welfare through innovations that protect the environment, such as recycling waste products and regulating carbon dioxide gas within its facilities. Also, less reliance on pesticides and fertilizers leads to the production of organic foods that are healthy. Similarly, greenhouses conserve a lot of resources, as seen in water conservation and use of renewable forms of energy. Lastly, greenhouse technologies have been demonstrated as improving society’s wellbeing by finding innovative ways to ensure maximum food production using limited resources, thereby feeding the earth’s growing population.

Works Cited

Carruthers, Steven. “Tomorrow’s Greenhouse Today.” Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses 107 (2009): 28.

Chen, You-hua, et al. “Agricultural pollution and regulation: How to subsidize agriculture?.” Journal of cleaner production 164 (2017): 258-264.

Fischer, Günther. “World food and agriculture to 2030/50.” Technical paper from the Expert Meeting on How to Feed the World in. Vol. 2050. 2009.

Fuller, R. J., et al. “Benefits of organic farming to biodiversity vary among taxa.” Biology letters 1.4 (2005): 431-434.

Kabat, Pavel, et al. “Climate proofing the Netherlands.” Nature 438.7066 (2005): 283-284.

Molden, David. Water for food water for life: A comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. Routledge, 2013.

Son, Jung Eek, Hak Jin Kim, and Tae In Ahn. “Hydroponic systems.” Plant factory. Academic Press, 2020. 273-283.

Specht, Kathrin, et al. “Urban agriculture of the future: an overview of sustainability aspects of food production in and on buildings.” Agriculture and human values 31.1 (2014): 33-51.