Comparisons between organic and conventional agriculture need to be better, say researchers

Summary

The environmental impact of agriculture and food production is a highly topical issue and frequently discussed worldwide. However, researchers from Aarhus University, Chalmers University of Technology and INRAE point out that the comparison method most widely applied (LCA) often lacks some rather crucial factors. Often, the LCA method does not include factors such as biodiversity, soil quality and pesticide impacts, factors of major importance in relation to agricultural impact on the environment. In a scientific paper in the journal Nature Sustainability, the researchers describe – based on an exhaustive analysis – their concern that the current application of the method may result in incorrect conclusions concerning comparisons of intensive specialized farming and agroecological agriculture (such as organic farming).