Abstract
Organic agriculture has a history of being contentious and is considered by some as an inefficient approach to food production. Yet organic foods and beverages are a rapidly growing market segment in the global food industry. Here, we examine the performance of organic farming in light of four key sustainability metrics: productivity, environmental impact, economic viability and social wellbeing. Organic farming systems produce lower yields compared with conventional agriculture. However, they are more profitable and environmentally friendly, and deliver equally or more nutritious foods that contain less (or no) pesticide residues, compared with conventional farming. Moreover, initial evidence indicates that organic agricultural systems deliver greater ecosystem services and social benefits. Although organic agriculture has an untapped role to play when it comes to the establishment of sustainable farming systems, no single approach will safely feed the planet. Rather, a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems is needed. Significant barriers exist to adopting these systems, however, and a diversity of policy instruments will be required to facilitate their development and implementation.
Generated Summary
This review article examines the performance of organic farming systems in the context of sustainability metrics and global challenges. It reviews the practices and certification processes associated with organic agriculture, emphasizing its role in balancing productivity, environmental impact, economic viability, and social wellbeing. The study explores the contentious history of organic agriculture and addresses criticisms regarding its efficiency compared to conventional farming. The authors analyze various sustainability metrics, including production yields, environmental impacts, economic viability, and social wellbeing, comparing organic and conventional agricultural systems. The article acknowledges the lower yields often associated with organic farming but highlights its potential for greater profitability, environmental friendliness, and the delivery of nutritious foods with fewer pesticide residues. Moreover, it discusses the need for a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems to establish sustainable farming practices, while also addressing the significant barriers to the adoption of these systems and the required policy instruments to overcome them. The research methodology involves a review of existing literature, meta-analyses, and comparison studies, focusing on the four key sustainability areas and addressing the challenges faced by organic agriculture.
Key Findings & Statistics
- Sales of organic foods and beverages increased nearly fivefold between 1999 and 2013, reaching US$72 billion in 2013, with a projected doubling by 2018.
- Organic systems produce lower yields compared with conventional agriculture, with averages being 8 to 25% lower.
- The best yielding organically grown crops, like rice, soybeans, corn, and grass-clover, yield 6 to 11% less than conventional systems. Fruits and wheat yield the lowest, with fruits at 28% and wheat at 27% less.
- Children who eat conventionally produced foods have significantly higher levels of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in their urine.
- Organic farming systems consistently have greater soil carbon levels, better soil quality, and less soil erosion compared to conventional systems.
- Organic farms generally have more plant diversity and greater faunal diversity.
- Organic systems are usually more energy-efficient than their conventional counterparts.
- Meta-analysis indicates that when actual price premiums are included, organic agriculture proves significantly more profitable (22 to 35% greater net present values) and has higher benefit/cost ratios (20 to 24%) than conventional agriculture.
- Total costs were not significantly different, but labor costs were significantly (7 to 13%) higher with organic farming practices.
- A switch to organic production would lower the external costs of agricultural production in the United Kingdom by 75%, from £1,514 million yr⁻¹ to £385 million yr⁻¹.
- The total economic value of three ecosystem services in organic fields was significantly greater at US$232 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ compared with conventional fields at US$146 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹.
- Organic premiums were 29 to 32%, whereas breakeven premiums were only 5 to 7%, and organic yields were 10 to 18% lower.
- The U.S. has seen a 33% higher risk for contamination with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in conventional chicken and pork compared with organic alternatives.
Other Important Findings
- Organic agriculture, combining traditional and modern farming methods, emphasizes crop rotation, natural pest management, crop diversification, and soil improvement through compost and animal manures.
- Organic farming systems range from strict closed-cycle systems to those that follow organic certification guidelines.
- Organic practices include crop rotations, animal and plant diversity, biological processes, and animal welfare, while prohibiting irradiation, sewage sludge, genetic engineering, and synthetic pesticides.
- Organic foods have significantly less or no synthetic pesticide residues compared with conventionally produced foods.
- Organic farming systems score better than conventional farming when expressed per unit production area, with respect to nitrate and phosphorus leaching, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Organic systems are more profitable and environmentally friendly and deliver equal or more nutritious foods with less to no pesticide residues.
- Organic agriculture has been shown to have some sociocultural strengths, such as positive shifts in community economic development, increased social interactions between farmers and consumers, and greater employment of farm workers.
- Achieving global food and ecosystem security requires reducing food waste, improving food distribution, stabilizing the human population, and changing consumption patterns.
- The performance of organic farming systems indicates that they better balance multiple sustainability goals than their conventional counterparts.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- Yield averages in organic systems are 8 to 25% lower compared to conventional agriculture.
- The lower land-use efficiency of organic farming in developed countries can reverse positive environmental effects when expressed per unit product.
- The human health impacts of pesticide exposure from food are not clear, and organically certified pesticides need to be better identified and taken into account.
- The nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods are debated, and there are no consistent nutritional differences.
- The study notes that the body of research studies has been heavily biased towards developed countries, and studies in the less-developed world, especially in tropical and subtropical climates, need to be greatly increased.
Conclusion
The article concludes that organic agriculture, although often perceived as contentious and less efficient, plays a crucial role in the context of global food and ecosystem security. While organic systems may exhibit lower yields than conventional agriculture, the study emphasizes their greater profitability, environmental benefits, and the delivery of more nutritious foods with reduced pesticide residues. The authors argue that organic agriculture demonstrates a better balance across multiple sustainability goals compared to conventional farming. The analysis stresses the importance of recognizing the limitations of both organic and conventional approaches, advocating for a blend of farming systems, including organic, agroforestry, and integrated practices, to achieve sustainable food production. The key takeaway is that organic agriculture, despite facing obstacles such as vested interests, lack of information, and infrastructure challenges, offers significant opportunities for enhancing environmental quality, economic viability, and social wellbeing. The study emphasizes the need for increased research and development in organic systems and calls for policy instruments that support agricultural innovation, promote open markets, and value ecosystem services. By addressing these challenges and embracing a multi-faceted approach, the future of farming can be shaped to balance environmental, economic, and social goals more effectively.