Agriculture accounts for 70 percent of total water consumption worldwide and is the single-largest contributor of non point-source pollution to surface water and groundwater. Agriculture intensification is often accompanied by increased soil erosion, salinity and sediment loads in water and by the excessive use (or misuse) of agricultural inputs (e.g. fertilizers) to increase productivity. Pollution caused by agriculture can contaminate water, food, fodder, farms, the natural environment and the atmosphere. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture can contaminate both groundwater and surface water, as can organic livestock wastes, antibiotics, silage effluents, and processing wastes from plantation crops. Pollution caused by large-scale industrial farming (including livestock and fisheries) is categorized as point-source pollution, and pollution caused by small-scale family-sized farming is considered non-point-source pollution. One of FAO’s mandates is to work closely with countries and other UN and non-UN organizations to monitor, control and mitigate pollution loads from agricultural activities, as well as the negative impacts of agricultural pollution on people’s health and the environment. In tackling this challenge, FAO takes a multidimensional and “nexus” approach to ensure that all aspects are covered – that is, socio-economic, health, environmental and food safety.

These activities are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG6.