Organic Agriculture boosts biodiversity.Organic farmers can now boast that their farming methods actually protect biodiversity at every level of the food chain, from bacteria and plants to earthworms, beetles, birds, and mammals, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a recent report from English Nature English Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006. It was a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and , a government-funded conservation agency, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a British charitable organisation which works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment through public awareness campaigns, petitions and through the operation of nature reserves . The researchers reviewed data from 76 studies of farms in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Canada, Europe, and New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. and compared biodiversity levels among different groups of organisms present on conventional and organic farms. More than two-thirds of the comparisons revealed that organic farming organic farming, the practice of raising plants—especially fruits and vegetables, but ornamentals as well—without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. benefited wildlife more than farms using chemicals and pesticides. Bats may be one the biggest winners. The researchers found that foraging activity among bats was higher by 84 percent on organic farms and that two species, the greater and lesser horseshoe bats, were found only on organic farms. Birds also benefit from organic agriculture, particularly farming in which both crops and livestock are raised. One species that could make a comeback is the lap-wing, whose populations in the United Kingdom have declined by 80 percent since the 1960s. Lapwings are found on all types of farms, but they thrive on mixed farms where they can nest on spring grown crops and raise their chicks on pasture. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This latest study is just one of many in recent years showing how organic agriculture can protect biodiversity, save energy, and keep soil healthy. A 21-year study by the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture, published in 2002, found that while organic crops can have lower yields (approximately 20 percent lower) than conventionally raised crops, the ecological and efficiency gains more than make up for it. The biggest bonus may be soil health: organic soils have three times as many earthworms, twice as many insects, and 40 percent more mycorrhizal fungi on plant roots than soils contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. with pesticides and other chemicals. And in places where farmers cannot afford expensive agrochemicals, organic agriculture can actually improve yields. |
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