The ecological footprint method on a farm level – a case study on a UK organic farm with parallel cropping

Summary

There is increasing interest in the farming community to understand and improve their ecological footprint and reduce CO2-carbon emissions. This case study compares the ecological footprint of organic and conventional cabbage, celeriac, sugar beet and winter wheat crops on a UK commercial, parallel cropping, farm. Results show lower ecological footprints and energy ratios in all organic crops. However, CO2-emissions per unit yield are only lower if the fertility building is not considered. Including energy use for fertility building and reducing yields in proportion to the fertility area brings CO2-emissions per unit yield level with conventional. It is concluded that in order to improve their ecological footprint organic farming needs to improve yield levels and make better use of the fertility area by using it as biogas for energy production, growing main crop legumes or using only short-term fertility building.