Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?

Abstract This article compares the impact of organic and conventional farming on biodiversity. Two opposing effects are taken into account: the higher biodiversity of organic farming and the lower land use of conventional farming. An evaluation of both effects on the basis of empirical data shows th...

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Main Author: Rainer Maurer
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Sciendo 2022-04-01
Series:Wirtschaftsdienst
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-022-3160-1
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author Rainer Maurer
author_facet Rainer Maurer
author_sort Rainer Maurer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This article compares the impact of organic and conventional farming on biodiversity. Two opposing effects are taken into account: the higher biodiversity of organic farming and the lower land use of conventional farming. An evaluation of both effects on the basis of empirical data shows that the higher biodiversity on organically cultivated areas is not sufficient to compensate for the higher land use of organic farming. For example, if a complete transition from conventional to organic farming takes place, average yields will decrease by at least 50 %, while the total biodiversity would increase by only 108 %. In contrast, if conventional farming yields were reduced by the same amount, 50 % of agricultural land could be renaturated. This would lead to an increase in total biodiversity of 317 %.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-31d35507aa92431a864b834bdac762db2025-02-03T01:57:09ZdeuSciendoWirtschaftsdienst1613-978X2022-04-01102430330910.1007/s10273-022-3160-1Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?Rainer Maurer0Volkswirtschaftslehre, Hochschule PforzheimAbstract This article compares the impact of organic and conventional farming on biodiversity. Two opposing effects are taken into account: the higher biodiversity of organic farming and the lower land use of conventional farming. An evaluation of both effects on the basis of empirical data shows that the higher biodiversity on organically cultivated areas is not sufficient to compensate for the higher land use of organic farming. For example, if a complete transition from conventional to organic farming takes place, average yields will decrease by at least 50 %, while the total biodiversity would increase by only 108 %. In contrast, if conventional farming yields were reduced by the same amount, 50 % of agricultural land could be renaturated. This would lead to an increase in total biodiversity of 317 %.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-022-3160-1
spellingShingle Rainer Maurer
Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?
Wirtschaftsdienst
title Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?
title_full Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?
title_fullStr Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?
title_full_unstemmed Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?
title_short Is Organic or Conventional Farming Better for Biodiversity?
title_sort is organic or conventional farming better for biodiversity
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s10273-022-3160-1
work_keys_str_mv AT rainermaurer isorganicorconventionalfarmingbetterforbiodiversity