How organic farming fights climate change

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January 3, 2025

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Around 3.6 billion people live in regions highly vulnerable to climate change, underscoring the urgent need for proactive solutions. In developing nations with fragile health systems, the capacity to adapt is limited, making climate resilience even more critical.

Amid these challenges, organic farming offers a promising path forward. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging sustainable choices in transportation, food production, and energy use, organic farming can help build resilience in vulnerable regions.

Greenhouse gases

Organic farming plays a key role in combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrous oxide (N2O), a powerful greenhouse gas, is directly linked to nitrogen fertilisers. Studies show that eliminating synthetic nitrogen fertilisers could cut global agricultural emissions by up to 20%.

This reduction stems from organic farming’s focus on creating closed nutrient cycles. Without synthetic fertilisers, organic farms minimise nitrogen losses through runoff, volatilisation, and emissions resulting in lower nitrogen levels compared to conventional farms, promoting a more sustainable, climate-friendly food production system with adequate yields.

A 40-year study by the Rodale Institute found that organic farms use 45% less energy than conventional ones while achieving comparable or even higher yields after a five-year transition. Organic farming also eliminates fumigant pesticides, which are common in conventional farming and contribute to N2O emissions, further highlighting organic farming’s environmental benefits.

Also read: Sikkim shows how to farm without chemicals

Carbon sequestration

Soils are the Earth’s largest carbon reservoirs, sequestering more carbon than the atmosphere and all life combined. The EU’s “Soil: The hidden part of the climate cycle" report emphasises the potential for enhancing soil carbon storage through organic farming practices.

Soil invertebrates, essential for forming organic carbon, play a crucial role in carbon sequestration. A review of nearly 400 studies showed that pesticide use harms these invertebrates in over 70% of cases. By switching to organic farming, farmers can reduce pesticide impacts, promote soil health, and increase carbon sequestration.

Farming for the future

Organic farming helps farmers adapt to climate change by maintaining soil health. Practices like minimum tillage, crop residue incorporation, cover crops, crop rotations, and nitrogen-fixing legumes boost soil organic matter, increase carbon storage, and reduce nutrient and water loss.

Energy use

Organic farming offers significant environmental benefits by cutting out energy-intensive inputs and relying less on external resources, leading to lower energy consumption and minimized fuel use.

Eliminating energy-intensive inputs: Organic farming bans fossil fuel-based fertilizers and most synthetic pesticides. These chemicals require substantial energy to produce, so removing them reduces the overall carbon footprint. Organic farms focus on internal nutrient cycling and fewer outside inputs.

Lower energy consumption: Without synthetic fertilisers, organic farming reduces the energy needed for their production and transportation. Research shows a 30-70% decrease in energy use per unit of land compared to conventional farming.

Minimized fuel use: Organic farms often use on-farm resources like compost and manure, cutting down on transportation and further lowering carbon emissions.

Climate resilience

Organic farming not only benefits the environment but also helps farmers adapt to the effects of climate change.

Building resilient soil: Organic farms prioritise healthy soil through practices like crop rotation, composting, and using natural inputs.

Better water retention: Organic soil holds water more efficiently, which is essential during droughts. Studies in the USA and Germany confirm that organic soil has superior water retention.

Improved flood resilience: Well-structured soil with good drainage can absorb more water, reducing flood damage and soil erosion.

Resistance to degradation: Organic matter improves soil structure, making it more resilient to extreme weather events.

Crop diversity

Organic farmers often focus on diverse seed and crop varieties, which leads to:

Enhanced pest and disease resistance: A mix of crops creates a less predictable environment for pests and diseases, reducing the likelihood of widespread outbreaks.

Greater adaptability: A variety of crops allows farmers to adjust their planting strategies in response to changing climate conditions.

Also read: How ancient recipes are reclaiming India’s plate

Promoting stability

The combination of healthy soil, diverse crops, and stable ecosystems results in:

Reduced risk: Organic farms face fewer risks from extreme weather events and pest outbreaks, leading to more consistent yields.

Lower production costs: Fewer external inputs like synthetic fertilisers and pesticides reduce overall production costs for farmers.

Organic farming provides farmers with the tools to build resilient, adaptable agricultural systems that thrive in changing climates. The approach benefits the environment, enhances food security, and supports the long-term sustainability of farming practices.