Disadvantages Organic farming

1 disadvantages

1.1 environmental impact , emissions
1.2 nutrient leaching
1.3 land use
1.4 pesticides
1.5 food quality , safety
1.6 soil conservation
1.7 biodiversity

disadvantages

agriculture imposes negative externalities (uncompensated costs) upon society through public land , other public resource use, biodiversity loss, erosion, pesticides, nutrient runoff, subsidized water usage, subsidy payments , assorted other problems. positive externalities include self-reliance, entrepreneurship, respect nature, , air quality. organic methods reduce of these costs. in 2000 uncompensated costs 1996 reached 2,343 million british pounds or £208 per ha (£84.20/ac). study of practices in published in 2005 concluded cropland costs economy approximately 5 16 billion dollars ($30–96/ha – $12–39/ac), while livestock production costs 714 million dollars. both studies recommended reducing externalities. 2000 review included reported pesticide poisonings did not include speculative chronic health effects of pesticides, , 2004 review relied on 1992 estimate of total impact of pesticides.

it has been proposed organic agriculture can reduce level of negative externalities (conventional) agriculture. whether benefits private or public depends upon division of property rights.

several surveys , studies have attempted examine , compare conventional , organic systems of farming , have found organic techniques, while not without harm, less damaging conventional ones because reduce levels of biodiversity less conventional systems , use less energy , produce less waste when calculated per unit area.

a 2003 2005 investigation cranfield university department environment, food , rural affairs in uk found difficult compare global warming potential (gwp), acidification , eutrophication emissions organic production results in increased burdens, factors such n leaching , n2o emissions , though primary energy use less organic products. n2o largest gwp contributor except in tomatoes. however, organic tomatoes incur more burdens (except pesticide use) . emissions lower per area , organic farming required 65 200% more field area non-organic farming. numbers highest bread wheat (200+ % more) , potatoes (160% more).

the situation shown dramatically in comparison of modern dairy farm in wisconsin 1 in new zealand in animals grazed extensively. using total farm emissions per kg milk produced parameter, researchers showed production of methane belching higher in new zealand farm, while carbon dioxide production higher in wisconsin farm. output of nitrous oxide, gas estimated global warming potential 310 times of carbon dioxide higher in new zealand farm. methane manure handling similar in 2 types of farm. explanation finding relates different diets used on these farms, being based more on forage (and hence more fibrous) in new zealand , containing less concentrate in wisconsin. fibrous diets promote higher proportion of acetate in gut of ruminant animals, resulting in higher production of methane must released belching. when cattle given diet containing concentrates (such corn , soybean meal) in addition grass , silage, pattern of ruminal fermentation alters acetate propionate. result, methane production reduced. capper et al. compared environmental impact of dairy production in 1944 , 2007. calculated carbon footprint per billion kg (2.2 billion lb) of milk produced in 2007 37 percent of equivalent milk production in 1944.

environmental impact , emissions

researchers @ oxford university analyzed 71 peer-reviewed studies , observed organic products worse environment. organic milk, cereals, , pork generated higher greenhouse gas emissions per product conventional ones organic beef , olives had lower emissions in studies. organic products required less energy, more land. per unit of product, organic produce generates higher nitrogen leaching, nitrous oxide emissions, ammonia emissions, eutrophication , acidification potential when conventionally grown. other differences not significant. researchers concluded, there not singular way of doing conventional or organic farming, debate should go beyond conventional vs organic debate, , more finding specific solutions specific circumstances.

proponents of organic farming have claimed organic agriculture emphasizes closed nutrient cycles, biodiversity, , effective soil management providing capacity mitigate , reverse effects of climate change , organic agriculture can decrease fossil fuel emissions. carbon sequestration efficiency of organic systems in temperate climates double (575–700 kg carbon per ha per year – 510–625 lb/ac/an ) of conventional treatment of soils, owing use of grass clovers feed , of cover crops in organic rotations.

critics of organic farming methods believe increased land needed farm organic food potentially destroy rainforests , wipe out many ecosystems.

nutrient leaching

according meta-analysis of 71 studies, nitrogen leaching, nitrous oxide emissions, ammonia emissions, eutrophication potential , acidification potential higher organic products, although in 1 study nitrate leaching 4.4–5.6 times higher in conventional plots organic plots .

excess nutrients in lakes, rivers, , groundwater can cause algal blooms, eutrophication, , subsequent dead zones. in addition, nitrates harmful aquatic organisms themselves.

land use

the oxford meta-analysis of 71 studies found organic farming requires 84% more land equivalent amount of harvest, due lack of nutrients due weeds, diseases or pests, lower yielding animals , land required fertility building crops. while organic farming not save land wildlife habitats , forestry in cases, modern breakthroughs in organic addressing these issues success.

professor wolfgang branscheid says organic animal production not environment, because organic chicken requires doubly land conventional chicken , organic pork quarter more. according calculation hudson institute, organic beef requires triply land. on other hand, organic methods of animal husbandry have been shown restore desertified, marginal, and/or otherwise unavailable land agricultural productivity , wildlife. or getting both forage , cash crop production same fields simultaneously, reduce net land use.

in england organic farming yields 55% of normal yields. while in other regions of world, organic methods have started producing record yields.

pesticides


a sign outside of organic apple orchard in pateros, washington reminding orchardists not spray pesticides on these trees

in organic farming synthetic pesticides prohibited. chemical said synthetic if not exist in natural world. organic label goes further , prohibit compounds exist in nature if produced chemical synthesis. prohibition method of production , not nature of compound.

a non-exhaustive list of organic approved pesticides median lethal doses:

copper(ii) sulfate used fungicide , used in conventional agriculture (ld50 300 mg/kg). conventional agriculture has option use less toxic mancozeb (ld50 4,500 11,200 mg/kg)
boric acid used stomach poison target insects (ld50: 2660 mg/kg).
pyrethrin comes chemicals extracted flowers of genus pyrethrum (ld50 of 370 mg/kg). potent toxicity used control insects.
lime sulphur (aka calcium polysulfide) , sulfur considered allowed, synthetic materials (ld50: 820 mg/kg)
rotenone powerful insecticide used control insects (ld50: 132 mg/kg). despite high toxicity of rotenone aquatic life , links parkinson disease compound still allowed in organic farming naturally occurring compound.
bromomethane gas still used in nurseries of strawberry organic farming
azadirachtin wide spectrum potent insecticide. non toxic mammals (ld50 in rats > 3,540 mg/kg) affects beneficial insects.

food quality , safety

while there may differences in amounts of nutrients , anti-nutrients when organically produced food , conventionally produced food compared, variable nature of food production , handling makes difficult generalize results, , there insufficient evidence make claims organic food safer or healthier conventional food. claims organic food tastes better not supported evidence.

soil conservation

supporters claim organically managed soil has higher quality , higher water retention. may increase yields organic farms in drought years. organic farming can build soil organic matter better conventional no-till farming, suggests long-term yield benefits organic farming. 18-year study of organic methods on nutrient-depleted soil concluded conventional methods superior soil fertility , yield nutrient-depleted soils in cold-temperate climates, arguing of benefit organic farming derives imported materials not regarded self-sustaining.

in dirt: erosion of civilizations, geomorphologist david montgomery outlines coming crisis soil erosion. agriculture relies on 1 meter of topsoil, , being depleted ten times faster being replaced. no-till farming, claim depends upon pesticides, 1 way minimize erosion. however, 2007 study usda s agricultural research service has found manure applications in tilled organic farming better @ building soil no-till.

biodiversity

the conservation of natural resources , biodiversity core principle of organic production. 3 broad management practices (prohibition/reduced use of chemical pesticides , inorganic fertilizers; sympathetic management of non-cropped habitats; , preservation of mixed farming) largely intrinsic (but not exclusive) organic farming particularly beneficial farmland wildlife. using practices attract or introduce beneficial insects, provide habitat birds , mammals, , provide conditions increase soil biotic diversity serve supply vital ecological services organic production systems. advantages certified organic operations implement these types of production practices include: 1) decreased dependence on outside fertility inputs; 2) reduced pest management costs; 3) more reliable sources of clean water; , 4) better pollination.

nearly non-crop, naturally occurring species observed in comparative farm land practice studies show preference organic farming both abundance , diversity. average of 30% more species inhabit organic farms. birds, butterflies, soil microbes, beetles, earthworms, spiders, vegetation, , mammals particularly affected. lack of herbicides , pesticides improve biodiversity fitness , population density. many weed species attract beneficial insects improve soil qualities , forage on weed pests. soil-bound organisms benefit because of increased bacteria populations due natural fertilizer such manure, while experiencing reduced intake of herbicides , pesticides. increased biodiversity, beneficial soil microbes , mycorrhizae have been proposed explanation high yields experienced organic plots, in light of differences seen in 21-year comparison of organic , control fields.

biodiversity organic farming provides capital humans. species found in organic farms enhance sustainability reducing human input (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides).

the usda’s agricultural marketing service (ams) published federal register notice on 15 january 2016, announcing national organic program (nop) final guidance on natural resources , biodiversity conservation certified organic operations. given broad scope of natural resources includes soil, water, wetland, woodland , wildlife, guidance provides examples of practices support underlying conservation principles , demonstrate compliance usda organic regulations § 205.200. final guidance provides organic certifiers , farms examples of production practices support conservation principles , comply usda organic regulations, require operations maintain or improve natural resources. final guidance clarifies role of certified operations (to submit osp certifier), certifiers (ensure osp describes or lists practices explain operator s monitoring plan , practices support natural resources , biodiversity conservation), , inspectors (onsite inspection) in implementation , verification of these production practices.

a wide range of organisms benefit organic farming, unclear whether organic methods confer greater benefits conventional integrated agri-environmental programs. organic farming presented more biodiversity-friendly practice, generality of beneficial effects of organic farming debated effects appear species- , context-dependent, , current research has highlighted need quantify relative effects of local- , landscape-scale management on farmland biodiversity. there 4 key issues when comparing impacts on biodiversity of organic , conventional farming: (1) remains unclear whether holistic whole-farm approach (i.e. organic) provides greater benefits biodiversity targeted prescriptions applied relatively small areas of cropped and/or non-cropped habitats within conventional agriculture (i.e. agri-environment schemes); (2) many comparative studies encounter methodological problems, limiting ability draw quantitative conclusions; (3) our knowledge of impacts of organic farming in pastoral , upland agriculture limited; (4) there remains pressing need longitudinal, system-level studies in order address these issues , fill in gaps in our knowledge of impacts of organic farming, before full appraisal of potential role in biodiversity conservation in agroecosystems can made.