impact of organic farming on climate change & natural resources

Climate change (reduced GHG emissions) (1)

Lowers GHG emissions - avoids synthetic nitrogen fertilisers - production is energy intensive - produces large amounts of CO2 & nitrous oxide - 300x warming potential of CO2

(2)

Methods usually less energy intensive don’t use artificial fertiliser - uses large amounts of energy & water to produce & results in nitrous oxide emissions

(3)

Relying on biological nitrogen fixation & organic inputs - significantly reduce these emissions

Soil carbon sequestration (1)

Helps conserve & increase soil carbon. Soil rich in organic matter stores carbon that would be released into the atmosphere

(2)

Organically managed soils (northern Europe) contain about 28% more soil organic carbon than conventionally farmed soils

(3)

Widespread adoption of organic farming (UK) could offset around 23% of GHG emissions from UK agriculture through: improved soil carbon storage & reduced fertiliser use

Water (conserves water) (1)

Building soil organic matter, planting cover crops & spreading organic mulch help soil absorb & return water & reduce runoff

(2)

Less water needed for irrigation so preserves water sources for the area

Water quality protection (1)

Reduces nutrient leeching & surface runoff

(2)

Reduces water pollution from pesticides - organic farming methods don’t use agricultural chemicals

(3)

Reduces pollution from nutrients eg phosphorus- can cause nutrient imbalances - stimulate growth of algae & can trigger algal blooms - reduce oxygen availability, harm fish pops & cause eutrophication

Reduce this risk by:

• recycling nutrients within farming system

• Maintaining nutrient balance in soils

• Using cover crops & grass buffers to trap nutrients

• Capturing & slowing water movement across fields

Reduced soil erosion (1)

Soil erosion damages farmland & contaminates nearby water bodies, sediments transport nutrients, pathogens & pollutants which:

(2)

• cloud water & disrupt fish habitats

• Alter water temp

• Increase water treatment costs for human consumption

(3)

Combats erosion by ensuring soils covered by living plants/crop residues year round, protecting it from heavy rainfall & wind erosion

Soil (reduces soil erosion) (1)

Use practices that maintain cover of growing plants over soil surface. Prevents soil eroding into water bodies causing water pollution from soil + nutrients & pathogens

Soil health (1)

Practices improve soil quality. Use a diversity of crops rotated over several seasons inc fallow periods - builds soil fertility

(2)

Healthy soil = necessary for climate change mitigation & prevention of soil erosion + encourages wildlife to control pest & disease - reduce use of artificial pesticides

(3)

To maintain soil fertility & naturally control pests it encourages natures own predators by maintaining hedge rows, creating open ‘wild’ spaces at the side of fields & rotating crops each season to keep soil fertile + avoid need for chemicals

(4)

Places soil health at centre of production

Healthy soil:

• supports food production & long term profitability

• reduces flooding by absorbing & storing water

• improves water quality by filtering pollutants

• helps mitigate climate change through carbon storage

(5)

uk soils store 9.8 billion tonnes of carbon - 1 of country’s most important natural carbon sinks

(6)

well managed organic soils absorb carbon, degraded soils release it - climate change

(7)

healthy soils = improved structure - more resistant to erosion & compaction

in summary (1)

organic farming delivers significant environmental benefits

(2)

improving soil health, protecting water quality, supporting biodiversity & reducing GHG emissions - organic matter = important role in creating more sustainable & resilient food system