The Ins and Outs of Organic Farming. FiBL response to the letter of Goklany in Science Vol 298

Summary

Goklany stated that 20 % lower crop yields in organic farming would require 25 % more land use to produce the same amount of crop biomass, offsetting some of the advantages of organic agriculture with respect to biological diversity, inputs, and soil erosion, and that the experimental yields are not typical. Furthermore, he indicates that organic farming might not be sufficient to feed the world.