Last year, the hypoxic zone, an area with low to no oxygen that suffocates marine life, was around 6,000 square miles. The average of the past 32 years has been 5,309 square miles. Oceanographers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium are predicting an even bigger area, one that covers more than 10,000 square miles.

In the Gulf of Mexico, these areas deprived of marine life and coral reefs are caused by synthetic agrochemicals run-off. The excess nutrients from fertilizers produce algae, which then sink and decompose in the water, reducing oxygen levels. Consequently, the low-oxygen environment is inhospitable for typical marine life and habitats. Not only are marine habitats destroyed, but also fish and other marine life are put at risk, ultimately lowering biodiversity and raising the cost of seafood.

The USGS estimated that 165,000 metric tons of nitrate and 22,6000 metric tons of phosphorus were deposited into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River this past year. These nutrients come mainly from conventional agricultural practices from land surrounding the Mississippi River. The excess nutrients then leach into the soil, then the Mississippi River and eventually winding up in the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to save marine life, and limit the expansion of aquatic dead-zones, better, more sustainable agricultural methods need to be taken. Neem-based pesticides and fertilizers are an innovative solution. Instead of relying on synthetically produced chemicals, neem offers a natural, effective crop care that will not cause heavy environmental damage. Neem even slows the release of nitrogen, allowing more to be absorbed by the plants and therefore less released into the environment. With neem, major environmental issues like the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico can be reduced, if not eliminated!

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Each year, 37% of potential crop yields are lost due to pests. This means that every year, $122 billion is wiped off of the market in potential output. If pesticide use were completely stopped, this number would double. However, many pests, like weeds and herbs, are now developing resistance to synthetic pesticides that have been used for generations. In order to continue producing more and more food, more and more pesticides will need to be used. Unfortunately, this will inevitably compound the issue of resistance development, requiring more pesticides for lower crop yields. How can this be reversed? By using natural pesticides like neem.

Neem is a natural pesticide that affects the hormonal system of insects, rather than comprehensively poisoning and killing organisms indiscriminately. While not effective immediately after application, pests will typically disappear for good within two weeks. Additionally, neem naturally repels many insects. So, while neem is working to rid crops of the current pests, it prevents future infestations. Neem is also cost-effective, as it has a similar price to many synthetic pesticides without any of the associated consequences. However, if we were to increase the use of neem products and other natural pesticides globally, overall cost would decrease. For example, in the US, the $10 billion annual environmental price tag would decrease!

Neem works by protecting your food, the environment, and the future, naturally.

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One reason that this happens is due to conventional farming methods. When we use conventional farming methods, we are clearing trees from once natural land and depleting the natural resources from that space. We then continue to spray these lands with dangerous synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, further exacerbating soil erosion and degradation.

According to research published in BioScience, the annual cost of environmental and public health impacts due to soil erosion is $45 billion. If we employ alternative methods that aid in the reversal of soil erosion, such as organic farming, no-till farming, and planting neem trees, we could lower this number and instead allocate those funds to other significant issues.

Planting trees in an organic farming system contributes to the overall sustainable model for organic farms, providing shade for livestock, preventing erosion, and improving nutrient levels in soil. By planting neem trees we are effectively combating global warming and providing sustainable solutions in agriculture. Soils under pasture are nutrient-rich, containing 60% more organic matter content than cultivated fields. Neem trees are an excellent option to aid in this soil and farmland recovery as they combat soil erosion, sequester a large amount of carbon, and provide natural animal feed and shade for animals.

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