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The greenhouse gas impacts of converting food production in England and Wales to organic methods

Author

Listed:
  • Laurence G. Smith

    (Cranfield University
    Royal Agricultural University)

  • Guy J. D. Kirk

    (Cranfield University)

  • Philip J. Jones

    (University of Reading)

  • Adrian G. Williams

    (Cranfield University)

Abstract

Agriculture is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and must feature in efforts to reduce emissions. Organic farming might contribute to this through decreased use of farm inputs and increased soil carbon sequestration, but it might also exacerbate emissions through greater food production elsewhere to make up for lower organic yields. To date there has been no rigorous assessment of this potential at national scales. Here we assess the consequences for net GHG emissions of a 100% shift to organic food production in England and Wales using life-cycle assessment. We predict major shortfalls in production of most agricultural products against a conventional baseline. Direct GHG emissions are reduced with organic farming, but when increased overseas land use to compensate for shortfalls in domestic supply are factored in, net emissions are greater. Enhanced soil carbon sequestration could offset only a small part of the higher overseas emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurence G. Smith & Guy J. D. Kirk & Philip J. Jones & Adrian G. Williams, 2019. "The greenhouse gas impacts of converting food production in England and Wales to organic methods," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-12622-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12622-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Meike Weltin & Silke Hüttel, 2023. "Sustainable Intensification Farming as an Enabler for Farm Eco-Efficiency?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(1), pages 315-342, January.
    2. Zhen, Huayang & Gao, Wenzeng & Yuan, Kai & Ju, Xuehai & Qiao, Yuhui, 2021. "Internalizing externalities through net ecosystem service analysis–A case study of greenhouse vegetable farms in Beijing," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    3. Isabel Blanco-Penedo & Antonio Velarde & Richard P. Kipling & Alejandro Ruete, 2020. "Modeling heat stress under organic dairy farming conditions in warm temperate climates within the Mediterranean basin," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1269-1285, October.
    4. Ross Kingwell, 2021. "Making Agriculture Carbon Neutral Amid a Changing Climate: The Case of South-Western Australia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Valeria Borsellino & Emanuele Schimmenti & Hamid El Bilali, 2020. "Agri-Food Markets towards Sustainable Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-35, March.
    6. de la Cruz, Vera Ysabel V. & Tantriani, & Cheng, Weiguo & Tawaraya, Keitaro, 2023. "Yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems across climate types and sub-types: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    7. Sean Clark, 2020. "Organic Farming and Climate Change: The Need for Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-7, August.
    8. Smith, Laurence G. & Westaway, Sally & Mullender, Samantha & Ghaley, Bhim Bahadur & Xu, Ying & Lehmann, Lisa Mølgaard & Pisanelli, Andrea & Russo, Giuseppe & Borek, Robert & Wawer, Rafał & Borzęcka, M, 2022. "Assessing the multidimensional elements of sustainability in European agroforestry systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    9. Jian Wang & Dongqian Xue & Meng Wang & Weibin Yan, 2022. "Influencing Factors and Mechanism of Rural Carbon Emissions in Ecologically Fragile Energy Areas—Taking Ejin Horo Banner in Inner Mongolia as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-11, June.
    10. Marta Ros-Baró & Patricia Casas-Agustench & Diana Alícia Díaz-Rizzolo & Laura Batlle-Bayer & Ferran Adrià-Acosta & Alícia Aguilar-Martínez & Francesc-Xavier Medina & Montserrat Pujolà & Anna Bach-Faig, 2022. "Edible Insect Consumption for Human and Planetary Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-29, September.
    11. Florian Ahrens & Johann Land & Susan Krumdieck, 2022. "Decarbonization of Nitrogen Fertilizer: A Transition Engineering Desk Study for Agriculture in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.
    12. Debuschewitz, Emil & Sanders, Jürn, 2021. "Bewertung der Umweltwirkungen des ökologischen Landbaus im Kontext der kontroversen wissenschaftlichen Diskurse," 61st Annual Conference, Berlin, Germany, September 22-24, 2021 317076, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    13. Matteo Coronese & Martina Occelli & Francesco Lamperti & Andrea Roventini, 2024. "Towards sustainable agriculture: behaviors, spatial dynamics and policy in an evolutionary agent-based model," LEM Papers Series 2024/05, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    14. Simmons, Aaron T. & Perovic, David J. & Roth, Guy, 2022. "Making waves – Are water scarcity footprints of irrigated agricultural commodities suitable to inform consumer decisions?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    15. Ndlovu Wiseman & Sabine Moebs & Marizvikuru Mwale & Jethro Zuwarimwe, 2022. "The Role Of Support Organisations In Promoting Organic Farming Innovations And Sustainability," Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 6(1), pages 44-50, July.

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