The following interesting article was published by Permaculture Magazine on 10th June 2015. According to the article it would seem that the Rodale Institute‘s latest report upon a 30 Year Old Trial finds organic farming outperforms conventional agriculture.
US’s longest comparison of organic & chemical agriculture
After a 30 year side-by-side trial, the Rodale report shows:
- Organic yields match conventional yields.
- Organic outperforms conventional in years of drought.
- Organic farming systems build rather than deplete soil organic matter, making it a more sustainable system.
- Organic farming uses 45% less energy and is more efficient.
- Conventional systems produce 40% more greenhouse gases.
- Organic farming systems are more profitable than conventional.
Although the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial is America’s longest-running side-by-side comparison of organic versus conventional farming, a number of universities have established long-term trials over the years. Between them all, they know that organic agriculture is more profitable, builds more soil fertility over time, and can yield just as much as conventional systems.
Organic systems adapt, withstand and mitigate problems
“As we face uncertain and extreme weather patterns, growing scarcity and expense of oil, lack of water, and a growing population, we will require farming systems that can adapt, withstand or even mitigate these problems while producing healthy, nourishing food. After more than 30 years of side-by-side research in our Farming Systems Trial (FST), Rodale Institute has demonstrated that organic farming is better equipped to feed us now and well into the ever changing future.”
To learn more about Rodale Institute, CLICK HERE. and to learn more about trials that compare organic practices with conventional ones, take a look at this informative blogpost of ours about the Morrow Plots here.