Organic Farming No Better For The Environment
According to The Independent “The first comprehensive study of the environmental impact of food production found there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to say organic produce has fewer ecological side-effects than other farming methods.”
The report for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found that “many” organic products had lower ecological impacts than conventional methods using fertilizers and pesticides, but this is offset by other organic foods (milk, tomatoes, and chicken), which are less energy-efficient and can be more polluting than intensively-farmed equivalents. The study did not account for additional factors such as the biodiversity created by organic farming or improved landscape.
Milk was given as a specific example of an organic food with a potentially large impact on the environment. Organic milk requires 80% more land and creates nearly double the amount of substances that could lead to acidic soil and the pollution of water with excess nutrients. Similar findings were noted with the raising of organic chickens. Longer growing times mean higher impact on soil, more pollution, and the consumption of more energy.