Organic Can Feed the World

Perhaps the oldest question posed to organic food producers is ‘can you feed the world on organic farming?’

At first the answer might seem obvious to many farmers - lower wheat yields can’t feed a growing population, so organic must be a dead-end. But that is shown to be untrue, based on scientific evidence.

We already know that industrialised, chemical-dependent systems are not sustainable. Nor is the vast consumption of fossil fuels for artificial fertilisers and globalised transport. And these shortcomings are just the tip of the iceberg…

Once you look holistically at what it takes to produce food, the challenge is to farm more ecologically, not more industrially. Organic principles aim to nuture healthy, living systems in order to produce food.

Here at Sheepdrove Organic Farm we believe that Organic is definitely the future – along with other measures such as more local food, and more self-sufficiency.

Best Evidence

Many studies compare the yields of organic and conventional methods for individual crops and animal products. But some studies have sought the bigger picture, and looked at environmental impact, various land types, different cultures, food security and locally-suited food production.

The UN published a study in 2008 which recommends eco-friendly farming as the way to provide food for the world's poorest countries - where organic styles of agriculture do more to protect the soil life which help crops survive drought and produce more food.

The report, which analysed 114 agricultural projects in 24 countries, shows that yields are often more than double where organic (or near organic) small-scale farming methods are used. The increase in yield reportedly rose to 128% in East Africa. A University of Michigan study showed up to 3 times productivity from organic methods in comparison to other practices, in developing countries.

In 2008 the IAASTD recommended eco-friendly farming with one of the most robustly peer-reviewed studies ever published, involving hundreds of scientists from all around the world.

The IAASTD is composed of one Global Assessment and five Sub-global Assessments, which use the same basic framework as their Global Assessment.

The purpose of IAASTD is to assess agricultural knowledge, science and technology (AKST) in order to use AKST more effectively to reduce hunger and poverty, improve rural livelihoods, and facilitate equitable, environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development. (What did they say?)

Ivette Perfecto and her colleagues at the University of Michigan in the USA found that, in developed countries, organic systems on average produce 92% of the yield produced by chemical farmers. However, the story is very different in developing countries, where organic farmers produce 80% more!

One very crucial point made by Perfecto, is that a mass switch to organic farming could also increase food security in developing countries. Farmers in poor countries can get the materials they need, such as dung, from local supplies, and usually produce it on their own farms.

Overall their results settle the debate over whether organic farming could sustainably feed the world, claims the research team.

Source: New Scientist
Journal reference: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (vol 22, p 86)

A study published in the journal Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems found that organic agriculture has the potential to contribute substantially to the global food supply.

The researchers examined a global dataset of 293 examples, and found that on average, in developed countries, organic systems produce 92% of the yield produced by conventional agriculture. In developing countries, however, organic systems produce 80% more than conventional farms.

The authors also found that organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without putting more land into production. Also the data suggest that leguminous cover crops could fix enough nitrogen to effectively replace the amount of synthetic fertiliser currently in use.

Source: The Answer=Organic group on facebook.
Journal reference: Badgley C, Moghtader J, Quinteroa E, Zakema E, M. Chappella J, Avilés-Vázqueza K, Samulona A and Perfectoa I (2007). Organic agriculture and the global food supply. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems Volume 22, Pages 86-108.

The longest ever study comparing organic and chemical farming published in 2002, also came out favouring organic. Hundreds of comparisons for yield and inputs were investigated. Although organic yields were lower, on average, the researchers concluded that the lower environmental impact made it better on balance. For example, yield per unit of Nitrogen input was better when manures were used instead of chemical fertilisers.

"We have shown that organic farming is efficient, saves energy, maintains biodiversity and keeps soils healthy for future generations," said Paul Mader of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in Frick, Switzerland, which carried out the 21-year study.

One of the massive differences made by organic farmers is the way they maintain soils, with higher levels of organic matter (and presumably less carbon lost to the atmosphere) and they boost soil ecosystems rather than poisoning them. The study found that organic soils had up to 3 times as many earthworms, twice as many insects and 40 per cent more mycorrhizal fungi colonising plant roots. (Mycorrhizae are the partnerships between soil fungi and plant roots.)

Soils are a precious living resource often lost to erosion, but better root structure and superior vegetative cover helps to protect the earth for healthy crops and forage. Organic farming supports soil health and therefore secures the ability of farmers to grow food for many years to come.

Source: New Scientist
Journal reference: Science (vol 296, p 1694)

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