Organic Expo & Green Show

Key findings from the UK’s Soil Association have shown again that ‘going organic’ is a healthy choice for the environment.
A recent report (released late 2009) found if all UK farmland converted to organic farming, at least 3.2 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil every year - the equivalent of taking nearly one million cars off the road.

The Soil Association says soil carbon currently remains a ‘blind spot’ in the UK and elsewhere. It says research shows soil carbon sequestration represents 89 % of agriculture’s greenhouse gas mitigation potential; and says action to increase soil carbon levels could contribute substantially to efforts to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The research found organic farming in Northern Europe produces on average 28 % higher levels of soil carbon compared to non-organic production; and that widespread adoption of organic farming practices in the UK would offset 23 % of UK agricultural emissions through soil carbon sequestration. A worldwide switch to organic farming could potentially offset 11 % of all global greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition an improvement in soil structure and quality from increasing soil carbon levels could reduce the impact of flooding, droughts, water shortages and desertification; and improve global food and water security.

The association called on governments to take such findings into account when considering climate change solutions.

Soil Association Director, Patrick Holford, commented: “Unless we are successful in tackling climate change, we won’t be able to feed the world’s growing population, however we farm.”

To address these issues in part, a Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change was established on December 16, 2009, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

”Organic agriculture has a strong potential for mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon in the soils at high rates and by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases due to avoidance of synthetic fertilizers and optimal use of organic material, ” said Urs Niggli, Director of FiBL Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and member of the Round Table.

The Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change (RTOACC) has eight founding members and aims to bring together stakeholders and partners along the organic food production chain.

A major activity in 2010 will be the development of a methodology for the carbon market, with the Round Table aiming to develop a measurement method to enable reliable quantification and certification of carbon sequestration in organic agriculture.

The group Table will also help to support and facilitate research on organic agriculture and climate change; and advise the international community on organic agriculture and climate change issues.

Source: Jaime Newborn, Editor, The Organic Advantage. 27 Jan 2010 edition