Comments on: Is the organic movement missing a big opportunity on climate change?

By: Amber Phillips

Amber Phillips — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:10:12 +0000

organic farms could actually save us from carcinogens and toxins*`:

By: Roger Upson

Roger Upson — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:57:39 +0000

I like what you are saying but I want to know how to put it into practise.

My friends in Nigeria are facing again another season of poor harvests because of the change in weather patterns that have made worse the the existing problems of soil infertility and erosion.

They need to change their farming methods. But how and to what?

By: Vasiliki Starn

Vasiliki Starn — Sat, 01 May 2010 19:28:22 +0000

it is still better to adhere on organic farming because the fruits and vegetables does not contain those harmful chemicals.`.`

By: Seppo

Seppo — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:48:03 +0000

According to researchers from the University of Michigan organic farming could feed the world.

“…in developed countries, yields were almost equal on organic and conventional farms. In developing countries, food production could double or triple using organic methods”, says Ivette Perfecto, professor at U-M’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.

More about the study here.

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=5936

By: Sophia Murphy

Sophia Murphy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:26:40 +0000

Hey Duncan,

Don’t forget the work by UNEP, some of it with UNCTAD. Also very encouraging about the importance of organic ag, not only for yields but also for social capital. Which is part of Jules Pretty’s point as well, and important for that transition for poverty to power.

http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ditcted200715_en.pdf

http://www.julespretty.com/Earthscan_Reader.html

best,
Sophia

By: Claudia

Claudia — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:08:58 +0000

Duncan,

Great post. There is so much to say about the square hunger-food production-food trade-climate change. I wish you could bring more posts like this. I have a personal interest on these discussions as my current research project aims to compare productivity of organic family agriculture with that of the large-mechanized export oriented farms in semiarid Northeast Brazil.

By: Gabriel Pons

Gabriel Pons — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:03:14 +0000

Duncan, we must be cautious, because there are a lot of experiences, even that ourselves are promoting from Oxfam, that don’t take in account the necessary balance between inputs and outputs, especially regarding to phosphorus. I have seen many attempts to introduce organic agriculture in poor soil conditions that had as consequence a miserable crop. In agriculture, going greener doesn’t mean necessarily going organic, a more nuanced stance is better, in my opinion. Look at http://lasdanaides.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/el-articulo-que-les-mencionaba/ (in spanish, but available in english on demand).