Environmental Effects of
Organic Farming and Conventional Farming
Overall,
organic farming is much better for the environment than conventional
farming. One of the greatest
environmental problems today is energy consumption, and organic farming uses
far less energy than does conventional farming.
As a matter of fact, energy efficiency is around seven percent greater
for the organic farming system. Other
positive environmental aspects of organic farming include the use of much less
fertilizer, and the complete avoidance of synthetic fertilizers, which are
harmful to soil, water, animals, and people.
Also, the nitrate content of organic fields is significantly lower than
on conventional farms due to the absence of soluble fertilizers. Too much nitrogen can throw the soil
community out of balance and lead to algal blooms in water that suffocate other
aquatic organisms. In fact, algal blooms
and dead zones are now a regular feature of coastal life in many places around
the world because of the impact of conventional farming. Organic
fields also promote biodiversity--a great variety of animal and plant
species--which is essential to the future of all species on Earth. Furthermore, organic farmers focus on
preserving the habitats of all species and their surrounding environments,
including the air and water. Finally,
organic farming releases much less carbon dioxide than does conventional
farming. Carbon dioxide is the leading
greenhouse gas that causes global warming.