A new report calling for a transition to organic
farming as a way for agriculture to play its part in reducing
carbon emissions will be launched in Brussels tomorrow, Thursday.
The Rich Earth report [1], commissioned by
Green MEP Molly Scott Cato and written by former Green party
leader, , argues that organic
farming is the most feasible way for agriculture to reduce the
10-12% of global greenhouse gas emissions the sector is
responsible for. But the report goes further, suggesting that a
largescale transition to organic farming practices could actually
achieve negative emissions, where the soil becomes a giant carbon
sink, absorbing and storing carbon.
The report also suggests that other farming systems
which claim to be low-carbon methods, such as ‘Climate Smart
Agriculture’ and ‘Agroecology’ are “imprecise, undefined terms”
with no certification scheme, unlike organic farming, which the
report concludes, has precise definitions, broadly globally
agreed parameters and is well-established and popular with
consumers.
Molly Scott Cato MEP, a member of the European
Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, said:
“If we are to prevent climate breakdown and stay
within the 1.5° limit recommended by the recent IPCC report, we
must find ways of recapturing some of the emissions already in
the atmosphere. The land has an extraordinary capacity to absorb
and hold carbon if farmed in a climate-friendly way.
“It is now widely accepted that intensive
agriculture is leading to a diminishing of the quality of our
soils. While policymakers have been on a charm offensive with
so-called ‘climate-smart agriculture’(CSA), it is clear that such
systems rely on high level inputs and new technologies such as
precision agriculture and genetically modified
crops.
“But the recent scientific review into the
drastic decline of insects caused in large part by the excessive
use of pesticides [2] has highlighted why we also need farming
methods that keep our soils free from chemicals, allowing life
within and around them to flourish. Such a system already exists.
Organic agriculture recognises and relies on the soil as an
ecological system, not just a matter to plant crops in. The
mainly small-scale farmers who produce most of the world’s food
already use organic methods and the principles, methodology and a
certification scheme are well established. A widescale transition
to organic farming is therefore undoubtedly achievable; all we
need now is the political will.”
Ends
Notes
[1] Rich Earth full report can be found at: www.mollymep.org.uk/rich-earth
[2] See Biological Conservation scientific
analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718313636 and
Guardian article by Molly Scott Cato: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/12/politicians-killing-insects-ecosystems
