It can legitimately be claimed that farming can help minimise the impact of climate change, particularly in mountainous areas. For example, grazing livestock on summer pastures at high altitude helps reduce the general avalanche risk in winter because the snowpack adheres better to grazed slopes. On the other hand, livestock farming and a global food culture centred on large-scale meat consumption are a significant source
of greenhouse gas emissions and have a major impact on water reserves, and it is not disputed that agriculture exerts a huge pressure on our climate. This pressure also affects biodiversity because of extensive crop cultivation and an increased risk of water pollution.
