Effects of organic farming on biodiversity

  • Changes in farming practices over the past century have had negative influence on farmland biodiversity. Organic farming excludes most agrochemicals, such as inorganic fertilisers and synthetic pesticides, and can be an alternative to conventional farming. A recent meta‐analysis indicates that there is on average 30% higher species richness on organically managed farmland compared to conventionally managed farmland. There are, however, large variation between organism groups, with a positive influence on plants and pollinators and possibly predators and birds, but less influence on and insufficient knowledge for other groups. Using more formal experimental design, focusing on understudied organism groups and aspects of biodiversity, such as genetic and ecosystem diversity, and evaluating effects on rare species would advance our knowledge. The yield reduction under organic farming, resulting in more land needed to produce the same amount, could offset some of the biodiversity benefits of organic farming.

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Author: Maj Rundlöf, Henrik G. Smith, Klaus BirkhoferORCiD
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0026342
Title of the source (German):eLS - Wiley Online Library
Document Type:Scientific journal article peer-reviewed
Language:English
Year of publication:2016
First Page:1
Last Page:7
Faculty/Chair:Fakultät 2 Umwelt und Naturwissenschaften / FG Ökologie
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