This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
Published on October 23, 2019, a study by researchers from Cranfield University has raised concerns about the environmental impact of a complete shift to organic farming in England and Wales.
The study found that while organic farming practices have several local environmental benefits, including soil carbon storage and reduced exposure to pesticides, they also make farming less efficient. This is because the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers encourages food to grow quicker.
According to the study, a drop in yields of up to 40 percent would result from a switch to organic farming, leading to higher food imports and a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This is because more land would be needed to cover pasture and cropland to make up for the losses.
"Although there are undoubted local environmental benefits to organic farming practices, including soil carbon storage, reduced exposure to pesticides and improved biodiversity, we need to set these against the requirement for greater production elsewhere," said Guy Kirk, professor of soil systems at Cranfield.
The farming sector contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, and unsustainable mass-scale agriculture has been identified as a major threat to the Paris climate goals. The study's findings highlight the need for a more nuanced approach to reducing emissions in the agriculture sector.
