ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 identified that there are two basic options for addressing the problem of agricultural pollution. We can 'cure' the problem by acting against the chemical pollutants themselves (e.g. by water treatment), or 'prevent' the problem by addressing the underlying causes of pollution (e.g. by encouraging the adoption of alternative agricultural practices that are less polluting). Since it is generally assumed that 'prevention is better than cure', the central concern of this book has been the encouragement and pursuit of practical farm-based solutions to the avoidance of agricultural pollution. The preceding chapters have explored a number of environmental problems associated with contemporary agricultural systems. Each chapter considered the way in which agricultural management practices can be modified in order to address these pollution issues via specific measures such as:
• the application of new technologies e.g. non-chemical weed control methods (Chapter 7);
• the provision of information and advice to encourage good agricultural practice by farmers e.g. MAFF Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water (Chapters 2 and 3);
• statutory controls and regulations to avoid undesirable practices e.g. planning restrictions under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 on the location of new livestock units to reduce the risk of odour nuisance to local residents (Chapter 5).
