When excess fertilizer or manure washes off farm fields, it can contaminate water that supplies nearby cities.
But farmers may hesitate to change their ways because it can affect the bottom line. Using less fertilizer can reduce crop yields. And other solutions such as buffer strips may require taking land out of production. So the cleanup often falls to cities.
“That sets up the potential for conflict right there,” says Michael Tiboris of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He says the issue is often approached as “us versus them.” So to facilitate cooperation, he suggests creating decision-making bodies made up of both urban and rural stakeholders….
“…to solve it as a collective problem.”
Hear Michael Tiboris discuss some possible solutions:
Get Schooled:
- Read up on excessive nutrient pollution from Great Lakes Connection and the IJC.
The fine print:
- This segment was produced in partnership with Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
