Organic Farming Productivity

After completing a 22-year study on organic farming, the Cornell University published a report in 2005, claiming that organic farming produced the same soybean and corn products as the conventional methods. But the university noted that organic farming consumed less energy and left little to no levels of pesticides.

Needless to say, a 21-year Swiss farm trial found that the production of organic farming was 20% lower compared to that of the conventional methods. Still, the study noted that the expenditure on energy and fertilizer in organic farming was 50% lower compared to that of the conventional methods. The Swiss study also reported that organic products contained 97% fewer pesticides.

It must be noted that productivity is a more complex issue compared to a summary of yield (production per land area). Productivity can be calculated by basing on the labor time instead of the land. The methods of organic farming usually requires more labor, thus providing more rural jobs, but at the same time increasing the cost products for urban consumers.