Use of the land is not decided by environmental criteria. The best is overused and the worst is under used. The best land receives higher concentrations of fertilisers and pesticides, and often produces higher yields of crops or animals. This is most noticeable in developed countries. In underdeveloped countries the best land is used for export crops, the worst for local production. The ownership of land also dictates its use. In the UK, agricultural land is owned by 2% of the population. . There are millions of acres of land where you are not allowed to walk to enjoy the environment. Half the food grown in the UK comes from land owned by 0.2% of the population.

EU authorities estimate that at least 25 million hectares of EU land are threatened by erosion - an area about eight times the size of the Netherlands. The following agricultural techniques contribute to the increased risks of erosion:

• inappropriate crop rotation and soil tillage

• loss of permanent pasture

• autumn sowing of crops

• use of mineral fertilisers

The main inputs to the land are pesticides, fertilisers and seeds.