how does organic agriculture benefit the environment

How Organic Farming Benefits the Environment

• Organic Farming Builds Healthy Soil. To grow healthy food, you must start with healthy soil. …
• Combatting Erosion. …
• Fighting the Effects of Global Warming. …
• Discouraging Algal Blooms. …
• Supporting Animal Health and Welfare. …
• Organic Farming Encourages Biodiversity. …

Full
Answer

What are the advantages and disadvantages of organic farming?

 · How Organic Farming Benefits the Environment Reduced Exposure to Pesticides and Chemicals. The Organic Trade Association notes that if every farmer in the U.S. Organic Farming Builds Healthy Soil. To grow healthy food, you must start with healthy soil. If you treat the soil with… Combatting …

How does organic farming affect the environment?

 · The Impacts of Organic: How Organic Benefits The Environment. If the first argument made in favor of organic food isn’t the health benefits, then it is likely that the …

What are the environmental benefits of organic agriculture?

Organic practices help keep our water supply clean of run-off from toxic and persistent chemicals. Moreover, by prohibiting the use of petroleum-based fertilizers and absorbing carbon dioxide …

Is organic food really better for the environment?

 · Organic agriculture works with and promotes sustainable farming practices that enhance biodiversity, strengthen soil health, and mitigate climate change while adapting to it. …

How can organic farming benefit the environment?

Organic agriculture reduces non-renewable energy use by decreasing agrochemical needs (these require high quantities of fossil fuel to be produced). Organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil.

What are the advantages benefits of organic agriculture?

Compared with conventional agriculture, organic farming uses fewer pesticides, reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water, and recycles animal wastes back into the farm. These benefits are counterbalanced by higher food costs for consumers and generally lower yields.

What are the five benefits of organic farming?

Major benefits of organic food productsReduces pesticide and chemical residues in soil.More nutritional value compared to conventionally grown products.Tastes better than non organic food.Promotes animal welfare.Improves immune system.Safe guards natural flora, fauna and natural habitat.More items…•

How did the organic farming reduce environmental stress explain?

Organic farms tend to have higher soil organic matter content and lower nutrient losses (nitrogen leaching, nitrous oxide emissions and ammonia emissions) per unit of field area. However, ammonia emissions, nitrogen leaching and nitrous oxide emissions per product unit were higher from organic systems.

What is organic agriculture and its importance?

Organic agriculture and its importance is a system of farming which is an agricultural method that includes the production of crops and livestock by using natural means instead of spraying pesticides, use of fertilizers, antibiotics, genetic modifications of growth hormones and organisms.

How does organic farming help the environment?

Air and climate change. Organic agriculture reduces non-renewable energy use by decreasing agrochemical needs (these require high quantities of fossil fuel to be produced). Organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil. Many management practices used by organic agriculture (e.g. minimum tillage, returning crop residues to the soil, the use of cover crops and rotations, and the greater integration of nitrogen-fixing legumes), increase the return of carbon to the soil, raising productivity and favouring carbon storage. A number of studies revealed that soil organic carbon contents under organic farming are considerably higher. The more organic carbon is retained in the soil, the more the mitigation potential of agriculture against climate change is higher. However, there is much research needed in this field, yet. There is a lack of data on soil organic carbon for developing countries, with no farm system comparison data from Africa and Latin America, and only limited data on soil organic carbon stocks, which is crucial for determining carbon sequestration rates for farming practices.

How does organic farming affect biodiversity?

At the gene level, traditional and adapted seeds and breeds are preferred for their greater resistance to diseases and their resilience to climatic stress. At the species level, diverse combinations of plants and animals optimize nutrient and energy cycling for agricultural production. At the ecosystem level, the maintenance of natural areas within and around organic fields and absence of chemical inputs create suitable habitats for wildlife. The frequent use of under-utilized species (often as rotation crops to build soil fertility) reduces erosion of agro-biodiversity, creating a healthier gene pool – the basis for future adaptation. The provision of structures providing food and shelter, and the lack of pesticide use, attract new or re-colonizing species to the organic area (both permanent and migratory), including wild flora and fauna (e.g. birds) and organisms beneficial to the organic system such as pollinators and pest predators. The number of studies on organic farming and biodiversity increased significantly within the last years. A recent study reporting on a meta-analysis of 766 scientific papersconcluded that organic farming produces more biodiversity than other farming systems.

How does organic agriculture reduce water pollution?

As the use of these is prohibited in organic agriculture, they are replaced by organic fertilizers (e.g. compost, animal manure, green manure) and through the use of greater biodiversity (in terms of species cultivated and permanent vegetation), enhancing soil structure and water infiltration. Well managed organic systems with better nutrient retentive abilities, greatly reduce the risk of groundwater pollution. In some areas where pollution is a real problem, conversion to organic agriculture is highly encouraged as a restorative measure (e.g. by the Governments of France and Germany).

What is organic agriculture?

Sustainability over the long term. Many changes observed in the environment are long term, occurring slowly over time. Organic agriculture consider s the medium- and long-term effect of agricultural interventions on the agro-ecosystem. It aims to produce food while establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or pest problems. Organic agriculture takes a proactive approach as opposed to treating problems after they emerge.

Is GMO organic?

Genetically modified organisms. The use of GMOs within organic systems is not permitted during any stage of organic food production, processing or handling. As the potential impact of GMOs to both the environment and health is not entirely understood, organic agriculture is taking the precautionary approach and choosing to encourage natural biodiversity. The organic label therefore provides an assurance that GMOs have not been used intentionally in the production and processing of the organic products. This is something which cannot be guaranteed in conventional products as labelling the presence of GMOs in food products has not yet come into force in most countries. However, with increasing GMO use in conventional agriculture and due to the method of transmission of GMOs in the environment (e.g. through pollen), organic agriculture will not be able to ensure that organic products are completely GMO free in the future. A detailed discussion on GMOs can be found in the FAO publication “Genetically Modified Organisms, Consumers, Food Safety and the Environment”.

How does organic agriculture help biodiversity?

Organic agriculture has a prominent role in supporting biodiversity because it preserves the diversity of species, maintains natural balance in the environment and has a positive impact on the development of rural areas and preservation of the natural resources.

Why is organic farming important?

To protect our planet, organic farmers use allowed organic, mineral and micro-biological fertilizers. Reducing the use of pesticides will support sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. 2. Organic Farming Produces Healthy Soil. Logically, to grow healthy food, you must have healthy soil.

How many pesticides do farmers use?

“U.S. farmers use 450 million kilograms of pesticides every year. These pesticides have now contaminated almost all of the nation’s streams and rivers, and the fish living in them, with chemicals that cause cancer and birth defects”, Worldwatch Institute reports.#N#How do pesticides and chemicals impact on the environment?

Why do organic farmers use pesticides?

Logically, to grow healthy food, you must have healthy soil. Using harmful pesticides can prevent soil to thrive on its own and that’s why organic farmers use natural, non-toxic and preventive pesticides that are beneficial to the soil.

What happens when you treat plants with pesticides?

Treating plants with pesticides and chemical s contaminates the soil, water supply, and air.

How does organic farming affect water quality?

Lack of clean water and poor water quality are real threats. Non-organic farms have bad impact on the water quality as farmers pollute water with harmful pesticides, toxic fertilizers, and animal waste.

What is the solution to the extinction of species?

Extinction of species is a burning problem in the world. One of the solution is turning to organic farming.

How much energy does organic farming use?

Research has revealed that organic cropping systems tend to consume only a third or quarter the energy of a conventional farming system. Additionally, organic farming sites were also capable of producing at least six times more biomass for every unit of energy consumed than a traditional farm. This was based on a study conducted by South Dakota State University.

Why do farmers use pesticides?

Traditional farming practices involve the extensive use of insecticides and pesticides in order to preserve the health of the crops. Although these chemicals aid in the safekeeping of produce, they are also known to have a horrendous impact on our environment.

Why are fruits and vegetables healthy?

The fact that fruits and vegetables are grown in natural and healthy conditions invariably has a positive effect on the nutrition and flavor of the produce. They end up being richer in micronutrients and minerals when compared to their conventionally-grown counterparts.

Why are pollinators important?

Pollinators such as birds and bees are known to be extremely vital for the growth and well-being of an ecosystem. Traditional farming methods have been steadily causing the decline of pollinators for years now, but organic agriculture has the exact opposite effect.

What is SAFS in agriculture?

A project conducted by the University of California-Davis called the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) project attempted to compare traditional and organic agriculture practices for twelve years. The project found that the water filtration rates of organic systems were seen to be at least 50 percent higher than traditional methods.

How to be certified organic?

The principles of certified organic food or agriculture are fairly simple and straightforward. The include the following points: 1 Focus on maintaining biological diversity within an ecosystem 2 Protect the environment by minimizing the erosion and degradation of soil, optimize the biological productivity of plants, decrease the scale of pollution, and promote higher health standards 3 Increase the long-term fertility of the soil in a region by taking efforts to optimize the conditions for biological activity within the land 4 Try and recycle resources and materials as much as possible 5 Offer care and attention to livestock in order to promote their physical and mental health 6 Utilize renewable resources wherever possible 7 Improve processing and handling methods with a focus on improving the organic integrity of the produce

Do governments give subsidies to organic farmers?

For some inexplicable reason, governments around the world have not yet begun the process of offering subsidies to organic farmers. Unlike these organic farmers, this encourages a lot of farmers to stick to traditional methods as they believe it is safer and they also receive a slight assistance from the government.

How does organic farming affect the environment?

Organic agriculture places great emphasis on creating healthy soil with each passing season, often by recycling organic material (compost) back into the soil, or in some cases utilizing no-till methods that allow root and fungi systems to develop naturally without interference . By creating healthier soil in these ways, organic farmers create a system that is more resilient to the effects of drought, as soil full of organic matter and increased biodiversity (such as worms, arthropods, and nematodes) has the ability to retain more moisture over longer periods of time without constant irrigation. Less irrigation means less consumption of water, and less water consumption means less stress on the environment to provide such a valuable resource. Greater water retention also means that a farm will often have a better chance at resisting unpredictable weather and climate, either by retaining moisture in hot weather or even absorbing water more efficiently in wetter weather (in contrast to dry soil which is more susceptible to runoff).

How does organic farming work?

Organic agriculture places great emphasis on creating healthy soil with each passing season, often by recycling organic material (compost) back into the soil, or in some cases utilizing no-till methods that allow root and fungi systems to develop naturally without interference.

How does biodiverse soil help plants?

The increase of biodiversity in and above the soil also contributes to combating pest problems, as healthier, more biodiverse soil can strengthen a plant with increased fungal growth that supports root structures, or natural predators such as nematodes that devour harmful pests. These benefits conferred to the plant then have a cascading effect, as the plant is given a greater chance to reach maturity and gain even more resilience to pests and diseases. For instance, a grown broccoli needs less protection from insects once it begins to show fruit, as the leaves normally consumed become less vital to the plant’s survival and growth leading up to harvest. Without the natural benefits of a biodiverse soil, a plant is left without vital defenses, and must use more energy in order to recover from pest attacks and disease (which results in lower yields of produce) or rely on the fertilizer and pesticide inputs of farmers (which creates a reliance on inherently unsustainable methods).

Why are natural barriers important for organic farming?

The use and maintenance of natural barriers also serves as a means to hinder the effects of pesticide use in neighbour ing farms, which always pose a risk to organic systems. When organic systems are positioned next to conventional agriculture, it will often fall to the farmer to ensure their operations are protected. This can place a great deal of stress onto the producers of organic food as they must not only work to promote greater soil health and ensure that their systems have a minimal impact on the environment, but they must also account for the unforeseen actions of their fellow farmers who can undo months or even years of work without realizing so. This is not to pass blame onto the shoulders of conventional farmers who simply operate according to what the current food system expects of them, but I instead bring this point up to highlight the consistent struggle organic farmers face when they must operate in a system that is at constant odds with their objectives. One could easily make the analogy of organic agriculture as a lone island adrift in an empty, one which must compete every day to maintain the life it so carefully cultivates on its shores from the elements surrounding it.

Why are organic farmers so resilient?

By creating healthier soil in these ways, organic farmers create a system that is more resilient to the effects of drought, as soil full of organic matter and increased biodiversity (such as worms, arthropods, and nematodes) has the ability to retain more moisture over longer periods of time without constant irrigation.

Why do plants need more energy?

Without the natural benefits of a biodiverse soil, a plant is left without vital defenses, and must use more energy in order to recover from pest attacks and disease (which results in lower yields of produce) or rely on the fertilizer and pesticide inputs of farmers (which creates a reliance on inherently unsustainable methods).

What is the analogy of organic agriculture?

One could easily make the analogy of organic agriculture as a lone island adrift in an empty, one which must compete every day to maintain the life it so carefully cultivates on its shores from the elements surrounding it.

What are the environmental benefits of organic farming?

” Unsustainable agriculture is the largest driver of biodiversity loss, it is contributing to global warming, contaminating soil, threatening rural livelihoods as well as food & nutrition security.”.

How does organic farming protect the environment?

How Organic Agriculture Protects and Nurtures the Environment! Organic agriculture works with and promotes sustainable farming practices that enhance biodiversity, strengthen soil health, and mitigate climate change while adapting to it.

Why is soil fertility important?

They are a key ingredient in augmenting soil health which benefits multiple organisms. These organisms in turn help in recycling plant nutrients and in controlling crop disease and pests, thus improving crop production.

How much of the food we eat comes from the soil?

Over 90% of the food we consume comes directly or indirectly from the soil. Therefore, we are personally impacted by the state of soils making it essential that we have healthy soils that produce healthy plants. Organic practices sequester nitrogen and carbon in the soil which is also a double benefit to the environment.

How does biodiversity help the ecosystem?

A thriving biodiversity increases ecosystem productivity and allows for a variety in species’ growth and maintenance. Diverse fauna and flora are essential for life on this planet, and these can only be fostered by sustainable …

What is the threat of biodiversity?

The loss of biodiversity is a hazardous threat to not only the environment , but also to livelihoods and food security. This loss has been further advanced by the continuous use of unsustainable agricultural practices that harm the soil, water, air, and the living organisms depending on them.

Why is organic farming better than conventional farming?

McDermid said that in some areas of the developing world, organic farming can actually boost yields over conventional farming because it doesn’t rely on so much water and chemical inputs. These practices also build soil fertility and lead to less pollution.

Why is organic farming bad?

Conventional farming has been heavily criticized for causing biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and increased water pollution due to the rampant usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, despite these glaring cons, scientists are concerned that organic farming has far lower yields as compared to conventional farming, and so requires more land to meet demand.

Why is it true that we had a small comparison between organic and conventional farming based on Swedish statistics?

This is because Sweden is one of the very few countries that has statistics that include the yields from organic and conventional crops.”

How do Indian farmers make their fertilizer?

Indian farmers who grow organic crops also make their fertilizers by filling a field with legumes that they grow in rotations. Once the legumes have fully grown, the farmers manually plow them into the ground.

What would happen if England and Wales did not rely on organic farming?

However, if England and Wales did not solely rely on organic farming, and both countries’ farmers used this alternative form of farming on a smaller scale, it could result in a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions.

How to lower the environmental impact of food?

While the organic versus conventional farming debate rages on, there is one clear way to lower the environmental impact of your food, and it won’t hurt your wallet: reducing the amount of meat in your diet.

What will the demand for food be in 2050?

It is estimated that by 2050, the demand for food is going to increase by 59 to 98 percent due to the ever-increasing global population.

What are the benefits of organic farming on the environment?

Beyond money and ethics, though, organic farming practices result in numerous environmental benefits.

Does organic farming reduce environmental impacts?

Organic farming practices have been promoted as, inter alia, reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. Organic farms tend to have higher soil organic matter content and lower nutrient losses (nitrogen leaching, nitrous oxide emissions and ammonia emissions) per unit of field area.

What are disadvantages of organic farming?

Disadvantages of organic farming Organic products may cost up to 40% more. Production costs are higher because farmers need more workers. Marketing and distribution is not efficient because organic food is produced in smaller amounts. Food illnesses may happen more often.

Why Organic farming is the best?

Compared to a neighbouring conventional farm, an organic farm at first appears to be better for the environment. What’s good: Organic farms provide higher biodiversity, hosting more bees, birds and butterflies. They also have higher soil and water quality and emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Why organic farming is bad?

Other recent research has also concluded that organic farming produces more climate pollution than conventional practices when the additional land required is taken into account. The emissions impact of the meat, milk, and eggs produced from organically raised livestock is more complicated.

How does organic farming reduce pollution?

Organic farming in principle discourages the use of harsh chemicals and therefore, contributes towards the preservation of the natural environment. In fact, research studies have revealed that organic farming can eliminate about 500 million pounds of pesticides and chemicals from entering into the environment annually.

How does organic farming reduce global warming?

Organic agriculture can also help combat global warming by storing carbon in the soil. This raises productivity and favours carbon storage. Put simply, this means more carbon is stored in the soil, which means less carbon in the atmosphere.

What Is Organic Agriculture?

How Does It Work?

• The principles of certified organic food or agriculture are fairly simple and straightforward. The include the following points: 1. Focus on maintaining biological diversity within an ecosystem 2. Protect the environment by minimizing the erosion and degradation of soil, optimize the biological productivity of plants, decrease the scale of pollutio…

See more on stories.pinduoduo-global.com

The Examples of Organic Agriculture

How Does Organic Production Impact The Environment?

Organic Production: Sustainable and Harmonious