ARS | Publication request: ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND ECONOMIC COMPARISONS OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL FARMING SYSTEMS

Submitted to: Bioscience
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: February 18, 2005
Publication Date: July 22, 2005
Citation: Pimentel, D., Hanson, J., Seidel, R., Douds, D.D., Hepperly, P. 2005. Environment, energy and economic comparisons of organic and conventional farming systems. Bioscience. July 2005. v. 55. #7. pp. 573-582.

Technical Abstract: Various organic technologies have been utilized for about 6,000 years to make agricultural systems sustainable while at the same time conserving soil, water, energy, and biological resources. Benefits of organic technologies include higher soil organic matter and nitrogen, lower fossil energy inputs, yields similar to conventional systems, and conservation of soil moisture and water resources, especially advantageous under drought conditions. Traditional organic farming technologies may be adopted by conventional agriculture to make it more sustainable and ecologically sound.