Organic farming and the environment

In the UK, the Soil Association Certification Ltd (SA) gives recommendations for improving biodiversity on organic farms srrch as maintaining at least 5% of land in permanent pasture or rm-cropped areas, or ensuring 10% of cropped land is planted after I February. Farmers can choose the appropriate stewardship options to ensure that the S A guidelines are achieved. 

Applied Plant Research, Practical Weed Control, Wageningen, 2006. 

Blake F, Organic Farming and Growing, The Crowood Press, 1995. 

Briggs S, Organic Cereal and Pulse Production A Complete Guide, The Crowood Press Ltd, 2008. 

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DEFRA (2006b). Organic farming and the Environment, http //www.defra.gov.uk/farm/ org anic/policy/actionplan/annex3. htm... 

Conacher J, Conacher A (1998) Organic farming and the environment, with particular reference to Australia a review. Biol Agric Hort 16 145-171 Condron LM, Cameron KC, Di HJ, Clough TJ, Forbes EA, McLaren RG, Silva RG (2000) A comparison of soil and environmental quality under organic and conventional farming systems in New Zealand. N Z J Agric Res 43 443-466... 

Conacher, J. and A. Conacher (1998) Organic farming and the environment, with particular reference to Australia A review.- Biological Agriculture Horticulture 16, 145-171. 

Absolute refers to the impact of organic farming on the environment and relative refers to the relative impact in... 

The sections 4.1 to 4.4 comprised a thorough review of the relevant scientific literature with respect to organic farming and its impact on the environment and resource use. While each section focused on one environmental indicator, this section will now conclude by bringing together the individual results documented in the summarising assessment scheme, whieh eompleted each subsection. 

Trewavas A. 2004. A critical assessment of organic farming-and-food assertions with particular respect to the UK and the potential environment benefits of no-till agriculture. Crop Protection 23 757-781. 

At the same time I think that much of the potential of GE plants is lost in conventional systems that continue to use pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. To maximize the benefit of GE plants they would best be integrated into an organic farming system. In this way there is a complementation of practices and technology—the organic practices protect the environment and the GE technology helps reduce crop losses to disease or environmental stress. 

We wrote this book for consumers, farmers, and policy decision makers who want to make food choices and policy that will support ecologically responsible farming practices. It is also for consumers who want accurate information about genetically engineered crops and their potential impacts on human health and the environment. Our book is for those who wish to know more about the food they eat, besides just how to prepare it. It is for every shopper who has at one time or another perused the aisles of the local supermarket wondering what labels such as organic or GE-free really mean for the health of their families and for the future of the planet. 

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