Describing an agricultural system which is intensive, expansionist, and based on the expansion of world trade in food, ever-increasing farm sizes, and the use of technology to increase output; factory farming and agribusinesses are both examples. Walford (2003) J. Rural Studs 19, 4 reports that commercial farmers continue to intensify and specialize; in Brittany, for example, the removal of hedges has decreased infiltration and groundwater storage (Douguet and Schembri (2000) CRITINC W. Paper 13). Annually, some 30 000 tonnes of nitrates are leached into British rivers (Harvey (1998) TIBG 4), and slurry from livestock has added to pollution; see Willis (2001) Asia-Pac. Viewpt 42, 1. See also Jay (2007) Food Policy 32, 2.