Organic Farming: Reducing Pollution, Saving The Planet

Organic farming is widely considered to be a more sustainable alternative to conventional farming. By forgoing the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, it reduces the amount of harmful chemicals that enter the environment. This, in turn, helps to preserve the natural habitat of insects, birds and other wildlife, while also improving soil quality and reducing water pollution.

Reduced exposure to harmful chemicals

Organic farming significantly reduces exposure to harmful chemicals, offering a safer and healthier alternative for both people and the planet. Here's how:

Fewer Pesticides and Synthetic Chemicals

Organic farming discourages the use of harsh pesticides and synthetic chemicals, which can contaminate the soil, water supply, and air. These harmful substances can persist in the environment for decades, leading to long-term ecological damage. By eliminating these chemicals, organic farming helps protect the natural environment and promotes sustainable practices.

Improved Soil Health

Organic farming prioritizes natural cultivation practices, nurturing healthy soil that can thrive without chemical intervention. Research has shown that organic soil, rich in compost, can host up to 1 billion beneficial bacteria from 15,000 species. In contrast, chemically treated soil may have fewer than 100 helpful bacteria per teaspoon. This abundance of beneficial bacteria enhances soil health and supports the growth of robust, nutrient-rich crops.

Reduced Nitrogen Run-off

Conventional farming relies heavily on synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers, which can pollute water bodies. Excess nitrogen interferes with the marine environment, disturbing the entire ecosystem. Organic farming, by avoiding synthetic fertilizers, minimizes nitrogen run-off and helps maintain the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.

Enhanced Biodiversity

The absence of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in organic farming encourages a wider variety of plants, enhancing biodiversity. This, in turn, leads to better soil quality and reduced pollution from fertilizer or pesticide run-off. By preserving natural habitats and encouraging the presence of natural predators, organic farming promotes ecological balance and natural pest control.

Water Conservation

Organic farming techniques, such as amending soil correctly and using mulch, contribute to water conservation. Additionally, certain crops like organic cotton require less irrigation, further reducing water usage. By minimizing water consumption and preventing polluted runoff, organic farming helps protect our precious water resources.

Less energy consumption

Organic farming is more energy-efficient than conventional farming methods. A 2006 State of Science Review by Dr David Pimentel found that organic farming was, on average, 20% more energy efficient than conventional farming systems. This is due to organic farming's ability to harness solar energy to grow crops and its lack of reliance on expensive nitrogen-based fertilisers and pesticides.

The energy costs of agricultural production are not limited to electricity and fuel. The manufacture and transport of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, for example, require a lot of oil. The Rodale Institute, which promotes organic farming, has found that the energy required to farm one hectare of organic corn is 71% less than that of conventionally grown corn.

The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has reported that organic crops and organic dairy farming use 35% and 74% less energy, respectively, than their conventional counterparts.

Organic farming's reliance on natural and biological techniques for crop production, such as composted manure and nitrogen-fixing cover crops, means that less energy input is needed on the farm.

Choosing organic food is one way to reduce your energy consumption and lower your environmental impact.

Improved water quality

Water is essential for the well-being of people and the sustainability of ecosystems. However, the use of agrochemicals in food production deteriorates water quality, limiting efficient water usage. Organic farming is an excellent method to reduce this deterioration and decrease food toxicity.

Organic farming methods can significantly reduce water pollution in waterways. A study by the USDA found that nitrate loss via water in conventional cropping systems was twice as high as in organic systems, with organic pasture systems losing the least amount of nitrate. This is because organic farming reduces the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which are a major source of water pollution.

The nitrogen and phosphorus found in agricultural fertilizers cause algae to grow faster than aquatic ecosystems can handle, reducing the oxygen available for fish and other marine life. This leads to the creation of "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive. By reducing the use of these chemicals, organic farming helps eliminate algal blooms and ocean dead zones, improving water quality.

Additionally, organic soils have a higher concentration of organic matter, which helps them hold together and hold water better. Practices like cover cropping also help prevent soil erosion, reducing the amount of sediment and pollutants that end up in waterways.

By minimizing the use of synthetic chemicals and improving soil health, organic farming plays a critical role in improving water quality and reducing pollution in aquatic ecosystems. This, in turn, positively impacts the health of people and the environment.

Less nitrogen run-off

Nitrogen is an essential ingredient in the manufacture of fertilizers used in traditional farming. Its usage has increased exponentially over the years, and when used on the land, about two-thirds of this nitrogen ends up in rivers and other water bodies, interfering with the marine environment and disturbing the entire ecosystem. The nitro release negatively impacts biodiversity and pollutes the water bodies.

Organic farming does not lead to such nitrogen run-off due to a lack of dependence on synthetic nitrogen-based chemicals. Instead, organic farmers rely on natural sources of nitrogen such as legumes, compost, and manure. This approach adds nitrogen to the soil, eliminating the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilization.

Legumes, such as beans, lentils, or peas, are planted in between other crops, converting nitrogen gas from the air into a form usable by plants. This method, known as nature-based solutions, not only adds nitrogen to the soil but also helps prevent the global accumulation of an overabundance of reactive nitrogen.

Crop rotations, a common practice in organic farming, also play a crucial role in reducing nitrogen run-off. By rotating crops, organic farmers prevent nutrient stripping from the soil, ensuring that the soil retains its natural ability to thrive sustainably.

Additionally, organic farming emphasizes the application of compost and manure, which further contributes to reducing nitrogen run-off. These organic materials improve nitrogen recycling, minimizing the introduction of new nitrogen pollution to the environment.

Overall, the lack of dependence on synthetic nitrogen-based chemicals and the utilization of natural sources of nitrogen make organic farming a more sustainable practice that helps reduce nitrogen run-off and minimize its negative impact on the environment.

Encourages biodiversity

Organic farming encourages biodiversity, which is essential to healthy ecosystems and serves as nature's own system of checks and balances. Conventional farming, on the other hand, relies on monocultures and the use of toxic pesticides and herbicides, which eliminates biodiversity.

Organic farming promotes a rich mix of microorganisms, plants, and animals, creating healthy and strong ecosystems that are resilient and can manage pests and diseases without the need for chemical intervention. This is achieved through practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and composting, which enhance soil biodiversity and overall farm resilience.

Crop rotation, where organic farmers rotate many crops through the same field, provides a variety of root structures and organic matter to structure and feed the soil. Cover cropping adds variety to crop rotation and nutrients to the soil. Composting encourages a diversity of microorganisms in the soil, further enriching it.

Organic farming also encourages the presence of natural predators like birds and bats, which play a crucial role in natural pest control. Bats, for example, can be utilised for pest management, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Integrating livestock into crop production further adds variety above and below ground, enhancing biodiversity. This integration also provides clean, chemical-free grazing, keeping animals naturally healthy and resistant to illness.

Overall, the encouragement of biodiversity through organic farming practices results in more stable and resilient farms, better equipped to handle challenges such as bad weather, disease, and pests.

Frequently asked questions