Steve Connelly MPH 810 Sept 15 2016

The question of whether or not organic farming (OA) can sustain and feed the world
is interesting to consider. Certainly in the research papers for and against the topic,
one can come to think that bias is quite pronounced on both sides of the debate.
With initial yields dropping by 10 to 15%, then recovering, and, in fact, seeming to
become more productive than standard farming practices, it would seem that OA
can well be a way to feed our current and future world population [2].
Of note, there have been some successes, particularly in developing countries, in
restoring depleted soils in part by rotating crops using nitrogen fixing plants such as
legumes and the fact that OA practices routinely add organic matter to the soils,
adding both nutrients back and holding moisture through mineralization [2]. The
rotation of crops does decrease overall productivity of the land in terms of total
consumable output, but by increasing the health of depleted soils, organic farming
will increase the amount of total arable land by reclaiming areas that have been
abandoned [3].
Standard farming practices today are simply not sustainable. OA uses 25% less
energy, less water due to mineralization (and could be further reduced by switching
to drought tolerant or climate appropriate crops), add vast amounts greenhouse
gases to the atmosphere (of carbon dioxide and notably nitrous oxide used in the
manufacture of chemical fertilizers). Additionally, pesticides are used in vast
quantities (0.5kg per person per year in the UK for example) that are creating an
environmental response that will decrease output of non OA agriculture. Indeed,
some studies suggest yield are falling despite increased pesticide use [1].

1. Brethour C, Weerskink A., 2001 An economic evaluation of the

environmental benefits from pesticide reduction. Agric. Econ. 25, 219
226. doi:10.1111/j.1574-0862.2001.tb00202.x.
2. World. The Ecologist. Retrieved
from:http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/268287/10_reason
s_why_organic_can_feed_the_world.html
3. Tiraieyari, N; Hamzah, A; Samah, B, Feb 2014, Organic Farming and
Sustainable Agriculture in Malaysia: Organic Farmers' Challenges
towards Adoption, Asian Social Science. 10, 4,
https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-3236185401/organic-farming-and-sustainableagriculture-in-malaysia

Nice argument Valerie. I respect the points you have discussed. Standard practices in farming have
been successful up to now in feeding the worlds burgeoning population, however, I feel that this type
of farming puts the population at risk due to a number of factors.

The cost of organic farming should decrease due to scale of economy as farmers switch over. As
well, it should be considered that the toll standard farming practices are taking on arable land:
increased salinization, nitrogenous chemical runoff from chemical fertilizers, increased resistance to
pesticides along with depletion of ecologically important insects such as bees as a result of these
chemicals. These factors are leading to standard farming being unsustainable in the near future.
Organic farming, though it may have less output due to crop rotation, can increase arable land and
by doing so, increase total yields.
Organic farming routinely allows for crop rotation rather than a mono-crop. This can diminish pest
insects naturally by taking away their preferred food source for a time and allow for minimal if any
pesticide use, or better, the allowed chemicals in organic farming as it is today.