Sustainably Feed the World with Organic Farming

Since 1981, the Rodale Institute has conducted a Farming Systems Trial, where they have studied three different farming systems, side-by-side: A manure-based organic system, a legume-based organic system, and a conventional, synthetic input-based system. This has allowed them to easily compare and determine, over the long term, which is more viable to produce the food needed in our world.

Their findings are that:

• 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 is more efficient – it uses 45% less energy
• Conventional systems produce 40% more greenhouse gases
• Organic farming systems are more profitable than conventional

Rodale Institute, 2011

In some agricultural areas of the United States, topsoil is eroding away at rates 12x faster than the government had estimated. Instead of regenerating and fertilizing the soil, conventional systems have eroded away soil and the nutrients and benefits they contain. In comparison, the Rodale Institute’s organic systems showed that soil health improved, was able to regenerate, and retained more water than conventional systems.
The organic manure and legume system both showed an increase in carbon containment, higher water retainment and reduced runoff, and are able to retain the natural nutrients longer than the conventional system retained the synthetically added nutrients.

In addition to increasing the vitality of the soil, the organic systems were found to make 3x more profits than the conventional systems. However, if they were to take away that price premium, yields are the same for both systems, meaning that, with lower input costs in energy, the organic system is actually more profitable, no matter what!

These are just a few of the reasons why organic farming is not only better for the planet, but better for farmers and for you! Instead of being exposed to synthetic, dangerous chemicals, demand sustainable, neem-based farming methods so that you can focus on eating truly healthy, sustainable food.