Dionys Forster

Yield and Economic Performance of Organic and Conventional Cotton-Based Farming Systems – Results from a Field Trial in India

The debate on the relative benefits of conventional and organic farming systems has in recent time gained significant interest. So far, global agricultural development has focused on increased productivity rather than on a holistic natural resource management for food security. Thus, developing more sustainable farming practices on a large scale is of utmost importance. However, information concerning the performance of farming systems under organic and conventional management in tropical and subtropical regions is scarce. This study presents agronomic and economic data from the conversion phase (2007–2010) of a farming systems comparison trial on a Vertisol soil in Madhya Pradesh, central India. A cotton-soybean-wheat crop rotation under biodynamic, organic and conventional (with and without Bt cotton) management was investigated. We observed a significant yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems in the 1st crop cycle (cycle 1: 2007–2008) for cotton (−29%) and wheat (−27%), whereas in the 2nd crop cycle (cycle 2: 2009–2010) cotton and wheat yields were similar in all farming systems due to lower yields in the conventional systems. In contrast, organic soybean (a nitrogen fixing leguminous plant) yields were marginally lower than conventional yields (−1% in cycle 1, −11% in cycle 2). Averaged across all crops, conventional farming systems achieved significantly higher gross margins in cycle 1 (+29%), whereas in cycle 2 gross margins in organic farming systems were significantly higher (+25%) due to lower variable production costs but similar yields. Soybean gross margin was significantly higher in the organic system (+11%) across the four harvest years compared to the conventional systems. Our results suggest that organic soybean production is a viable option for smallholder farmers under the prevailing semi-arid conditions in India. Future research needs to elucidate the long-term productivity and profitability, particularly of cotton and wheat, and the ecological impact of the different farming systems.

Organic Agriculture - Driving Innovations in Crop Research

Food security is threatened by a growing human population, depletion of natural resources, and mounting environmental degradation. Agricultural research faces a crossroad: continue down a path dominated by proprietary technologies produced by high-input systems, or design farming systems that conserve natural resources and work with ecological processes. Soil fertility is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. Land in agricultural production is being degraded by intensive farming practices. Reliance on non-renewable resources to provide soluble nutrients to crops is inherently unsustainable as it proves to be destructive to soils and the environment. Crop nutrients will need to be efficiently recycled if soils are to remain productive, particularly in tropical regions. Crops grown in low-input conditions will need to be bred to be efficient feeders resistant to pests and diseases. Continued focus on yield supported by increasing use of fertilizers and pesticides will not meet the needs of farmers who lack access to those inputs. As conventional farming practices continue to reduce biodiversity at an accelerating pace through a narrower gene pool and fewer species cultivated, agricultural ecosystems become more vulnerable to ecological disruptions. Productivity is only one dimension of sustainability. A greater understanding and application of functional biodiversity can be used to design site-specific systems that provide for current needs, while conserving resources and maintaining options for future generations. Ecosystem management also involves nutrient cycling, the ecological food web, and the flow of genetic resources. Research in the ecology of farming systems is needed to develop cultural and biological practices that prevent production problems. Technological development and diffusion will need to be restructured to give resource-constrained farmers access to the tools needed to meet the challenge. The reductionist paradigm has increased short-run productivity, but at a social and environmental cost. A narrow, reductionist, disciplinary approach to research is incapable of answering complex systems questions. Transdisciplinary research is proposed to address the challenges that are raised by a holistic approach to science. Farmers are crucial participants in the research process, to identify research priorities, to collaborate with scientists in conducting research, and to adopt and disseminate the results of research. As organic agriculture continues to grow and improve, organic agricultural research has not kept pace and is under-served. Organic farmers innovated and pioneered many techniques used in integrated systems. Organic farming systems research offers the most promising way forward to meet the challenges of food production and environmental quality.