[P2P-F] fast facts about organic

[Michel Bauwens]

DEAR ELI, could you present this report to the blog? Many thanks!!

*Truly Sustainable Agriculture* <http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/fst30years>
Rodale Institute
*Here is some very interesting good news. In the face of the corporatization
of agriculture, and the complete disconnect from the natural processes of
the earth this has led to, here is firm evidence that the only real road to
sustainable agriculture is to work in conjunction with nature's natural
cycles and processes. This shows us that ordinary people, using none of the
chemicals that are Big Agra's hallmark can grow their own far healthier food
with no recourse to the chemicals.

I recommend you go to the primary site and download the .pdf of the full
report.*
The hallmark of a truly sustainable system is its ability to regenerate
itself. When it comes to farming, the key to sustainable agriculture is
healthy soil, since this is the foundation for present and future growth.

Organic farming is far superior to conventional systems when it comes to
building, maintaining and replenishing the health of the soil. For soil
health alone, organic agriculture is more sustainable than conventional.
When one also considers yields, economic viability, energy usage, and human
health, it’s clear that organic farming is sustainable, while current
conventional practices are not.

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 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.


Fast Facts

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.

History

The Farming Systems Trial (FST)® at Rodale Institute is America’s longest
running, sideby-side comparison of organic and chemical agriculture. Started
in 1981 to study what happens during the transition from chemical to organic
agriculture, the FST surprised a food community that still scoffed at
organic practices. After an initial decline in yields during the first few
years of transition, the organic system soon rebounded to match or surpass
the conventional system. Over time, FST became a comparison between the long
term potential of the two systems.

We selected corn and soybean production as our research focus because large
tracts of land, particularly in our region and the Midwest, are devoted to
the production of these crops. Corn and soybean acreage comprised 49% of the
total cropland in the U.S. in 2007. Other grains made up 21%, forages 22%
and vegetables just 1.5%.

Throughout its long history, the FST has contained three core farming
systems, each of which features diverse management practices: a manure-based
organic system, a legume-based organic system, and a synthetic input-based
conventional system. In the past three years of the trial, genetically
modified (GM) crops and no-till treatments were incorporated to better
represent farming in America today. Results and comparisons are noted
accordingly to reflect this shift.

THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS

Organic Manure: This system represents an organic dairy or beef operation.
It features a long rotation including both annual feed grain crops and
perennial forage crops. The system’s fertility is provided by leguminous
cover crops and periodic applications of manure or composted manure. This
diverse rotation is also the primary line of defense against pests.

Organic Legume: This system represents an organic cash grain system. It
features a mid-length rotation consisting of annual grain crops and cover
crops. The system’s sole source of fertility is leguminous cover crops and
the rotation provides the primary line of defense against pests.

Conventional Synthetic: This system represents the majority of grain farms
in the U.S. It relies on synthetic nitrogen for fertility, and weeds are
controlled by synthetic herbicides selected by and applied at rates
recommended by Penn State University Cooperative Extension. In 2008,
genetically modified (GM) corn and soybeans were added to this system.

No-Till Systems: Each of the major systems was divided into two in 2008 to
compare traditional tillage with no-till practices. The organic systems
utilize our innovative no-till roller/crimper, and the no-till conventional
system relies on current, widespread practices of herbicide applications and
no-tillspecific equipment.

CROP ROTATIONS

The crop rotations in the organic systems are more diverse than in the
conventional systems, including up to seven crops in eight years (compared
to two conventional crops in two years). While this means that conventional
systems produce more corn or soybeans because they occur more often in the
rotation, organic systems produce a more diverse array of food and nutrients
and are better positioned to produce yields, even in adverse conditions.

-- 
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