Research at The Rodale Institute Challenges Toughest Critics of Organic

Newsweek
March 15, 2000

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (March 15, 2000) - Implementation of the first national standards for organic food isn't the only reason why consumers and growers should feel confident about the future of the $6 billion organic industry. A report by The Rodale Institute that documents findings from its 19- year-old Farming Systems Trial(TM)(FST) will go a long way toward silencing the most outspoken critics of organic agriculture.*

Funded by The Rodale Institute, a nonprofit organization, and in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), the FST experiment covers 12 acres and compares highly productive, intensive corn/soybean systems under conventional and organic management. Although still in progress, the FST is the first experiment of its kind to prove that organic methods are as efficient, economical and financially competitive as conventional methods, as well as better for the soil and the environment.

Without scientific proof to counter their arguments, advocates and critics of organic methods have clashed regularly over three main issues: yields, environmental benefits and economics. The Rodale Institute's FST findings prove conclusively that not only is organic agriculture a profitable alternative to conventional agriculture, it provides a significant solution for an array of worldwide concerns such as soil quality, global warming, groundwater pollution, poverty alleviation and the preservation of human health.

Critics of organic agriculture have long suggested that pesticides, fertilizers and biotechnology are necessary to produce yields sufficient to meet the world's demand for food on today's available farmland. They contend that it would be necessary to plough under thousands of additional acres of wild land to produce sufficient yields using organic methods. However, assessing plots of equal size, The Rodale Institute's trials reveal that after a transitional period of about four years, crops grown under organic systems yield as well as, and sometimes better than, those grown conventionally. In fact, in years of less-than-optimal growing conditions such as drought, organic systems can actually out-produce conventional systems.

The FST compares three distinct methods of producing crops: conventionally with standard fertilizers and chemicals, organically with animal manures as a primary nitrogen source, and organically with legume crops (or green manure) as a primary nitrogen source. The findings show that the organic practices improve soil quality significantly, increasing the retention of moisture, carbon and nitrogen, and suggesting a role for organic agriculture in the reduction of negative environmental impacts such as erosion, drought, greenhouse gases and groundwater pollution. The organically managed soil also showed a higher level of microbial activity and a greater diversity of microorganisms. These long-term changes in the character of the soil promote plant health and may positively affect the way in which elements such as carbon and nitrogen are cycled in the soil.

Most significantly, the yield results from the FST undermine the argument of critics that organic agriculture cannot compete economically. Analysis of data produced by the trials indicates that organic systems can compete with conventional systems after a transition period. Projected profits ranged from slightly below to substantially above those in the conventional system, even though economic analyses did not assume any price premium for organically grown crops.

"The FST is a global agriculture research and educational treasure," says John Haberern, The Rodale Institute's president. He adds, "With this unique living laboratory, we have proved scientifically that organic agriculture works. It is a viable alternative to conventional farming because it's an economical resource that can empower people to build healthy soil, produce healthy food and sustain human and environmental health. These results single-handedly answer many questions that organic critics have raised and back it up with indisputable proof."

* The Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial - The First 15 Years is available by request. Call (610) 683-1400 to order a copy. Please call Sarah Eykyn at (480) 659-0614 to arrange an interview with scientists at The Rodale Institute.

The Rodale Institute is a nonprofit charity located in Kutztown, Pa. The Institute shares its expertise on organic/regenerative farming methods with people worldwide to achieve a regenerative food system that renews environmental and human health. "Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People(r)" has been The Rodale Institute's message for the past 51 years. Funded in large part by donations from individuals, government agencies, private foundations and corporations, The Rodale Institute continues to promote soil quality practices to farmers worldwide.

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. **