Organic Farming: Pros and Cons for Soil Health and Climate Change

Abstract

The rapid expansion of organic farming systems means that it is timely to consider their responses to climate change. The overall value of ecosystem services delivered is higher and the energy use of organic farms is lower than conventional comparators, whether assessed per unit area or per tonne of product. Increases in the amount of carbon stored under organic management are widely reported; these changes underpin increases in the biological and physical quality of soil. Direct impacts of climate change on crop choice and rotation design will be largely indistinguishable for organic and conventional systems. Nevertheless, organic systems in marginal rainfall areas may be more resilient, due to improvements in drought resistance. Organic farmers are inherently well placed to adapt to climate change: maintenance of soil health and application of adaptive management are key steps for successful adaptation of all farming systems in the light of climate change.