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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] The Role of Organic Agriculture in Mitigating Climate Change
  • Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:19:27 -0700



The Role of Organic Agriculture in Mitigating Climate Change
June 01, 2004
http://www.ifoam.org/press/positions/Climate_study_green_house-gasses.html

IFOAM is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic movement,
uniting more than 750 member organizations in 108 countries.

There is dramatic evidence that various Greenhouse Gases are responsible
for Global Warming and climate change. It is also clear that the most
important solution to Global Warming is the dramatic reduction of fossil
fuel use, and that other strategies shall not be an excuse to continue with
business as usual. A study commissioned by IFOAM discusses the potential of
Organic Agriculture both to avoid and to sequester Greenhouse Gases (GHG),
and makes comparisons with conventional agriculture. The second part
describes how Organic Agriculture can be considered within the
implementation mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. The study shows that
organic agriculture can play a role both for reducing GHG emissions and to
sequester carbon.
Organic Agriculture could contribute significantly to reduce GHG releases
and to sequester carbon in soils and biomass. There is sufficient evidence
that Organic Agriculture is superior to mainstream agriculture. This is
even more important as the capacity of Organic Agriculture to contribute to
the mitigation of climate change can be considered as an ancillary benefit
to its primary goal of sustainable land use. This primary goal is achieved
by gains in soil productivity, consecutive food security, biodiversity
conservation and many other benefits.

As opposed to the focus of conservation agriculture on a single technology,
Organic Agriculture follows a site-specific and systematic approach that
includes a comprehensive set of integrated technologies. Because of the
inspection and certification systems required in Organic Agriculture,
monitoring and evaluation of carbon sequestration is simplified and
cost-effective in comparison to conventional agricultural practices.

Policymakers should recognize the potential of organic farming for GHG
reduction and develop appropriate programs for using this potential. Such
programs may look into the emission reduction potential, in the
sequestration potential, in the possibility for organically grown biomass,
or in combinations of all the aspects. This is as relevant in developed
countries as in developing countries.

MORE
Statement on the role of Organic Agriculture in mitigating Climate Change
http://www.ifoam.org/press/positions/pdfs/Role_of_OA_migitating_climate_chan
ge.pdf

Attachment: Climate_Change_Cover.gif
Description: GIF image



  • [Livingontheland] The Role of Organic Agriculture in Mitigating Climate Change, Tradingpost, 01/12/2009

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