Crop destruction

In a scorched-earth strategy, crops and other useful materials are destroyed to prevent the enemy from gaining hold of them.

The strategy of destroying the food supply of the civilian population in an area of conflict has been banned under Article 54 of Protocol I of the 1977 Geneva Conventions,[1] though it continues to be used as a weapon of war.

[2][3][4] In government-regulated agriculture, farmers can be required to destroy crops that exceed their production quota.

Note that this term does not apply to the burning of crops which are or can be usefully harvested by this means, such as sugar cane.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck depicts the destruction of oranges, potatoes, pig carcasses and other agricultural products during the Great Depression.