Restoring Ecological Equilibrium: The Case for Sustainable Mixed Farming in Response to Industrial Agriculture's Environmental and Climate Costs.

Industrial agriculture, particularly systems reliant on minimum tillage combined with high agrochemical inputs, undermines biodiversity, degrades soil health, and contributes to climate change. This paper critiques the environmental, economic, and social costs of such systems and contrasts them with rotational mixed farming that integrates livestock, legumes, and long-term pastures. Drawing on both empirical literature and case studies, the analysis shows that mixed farming can restore soil fertility, increase carbon sequestration, reduce de-pendency on external chemical inputs, and support food security and self‐sufficiency. Policy implications are discussed, with recommendations for incentivising sustainable practices and reorienting agricultural policy toward long-term soil health and ecosystem resilience.