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Title: ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND ECONOMIC COMPARISONS OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL FARMING SYSTEMS

Author
item PIMENTEL, DAVID - CORNELL UNIV.
item HANSON, JAMES - UNIV OF MD
item SEIDEL, RITA - RODALE INSTITUTE
item Douds, David
item HEPPERLY, PAUL - RODALE INSTITUTE

Submitted to: Bioscience
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2005
Publication Date: 7/22/2005
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.

Interpretive Summary:

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.