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Anorak News | Organic Farming Leads To Climate Change

Organic Farming Leads To Climate Change

by | 8th, August 2007

I FEEL self-righteous. And I’ll take my veg washed, diced, packed and deep frozen please. And do my bit for the planet:

Organic agriculture controls weeds primarily by ploughing. The microbial respiration rate is increased every time a plough churns up the soil. When compared to no-tillage, mould-board ploughing doubles CO2 emissions from the soil.

And:

Some have suggested a complete conversion to organic agriculture. But, on average, organic agriculture produces 30 percent less per hectare than conventional farms. If we were to convert entirely to organic agriculture, we would need at least 30 percent more farmland. Significant amounts of the remaining wilderness would have to be ploughed under to maintain current food production levels.

The conversion to organic farming would also require a tremendous increase in animals to generate manure fertilizer. Anyone who has ever been near the back end of a cow knows this would significantly increase a different greenhouse gas.

Eat the cow and save the planet!



Posted: 8th, August 2007 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink