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Organic versus Conventional Cropping Sustainability: A Comparative System Analysis

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  • Tiffany L. Fess

    (Division of Plant & Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6108, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Vagner A. Benedito

    (Division of Plant & Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6108, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

Abstract

We are at a pivotal time in human history, as the agricultural sector undergoes consolidation coupled with increasing energy costs in the context of declining resource availability. Although organic systems are often thought of as more sustainable than conventional operations, the lack of concise and widely accepted means to measure sustainability makes coming to an agreement on this issue quite challenging. However, an accurate assessment of sustainability can be reached by dissecting the scientific underpinnings of opposing production practices and crop output between cropping systems. The purpose of this review is to provide an in-depth and comprehensive evaluation of modern global production practices and economics of organic cropping systems, as well as assess the sustainability of organic production practices through the clarification of information and analysis of recent research. Additionally, this review addresses areas where improvements can be made to help meet the needs of future organic producers, including organic-focused breeding programs and necessity of coming to a unified global stance on plant breeding technologies. By identifying management strategies that utilize practices with long-term environmental and resource efficiencies, a concerted global effort could guide the adoption of organic agriculture as a sustainable food production system.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiffany L. Fess & Vagner A. Benedito, 2018. "Organic versus Conventional Cropping Sustainability: A Comparative System Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-42, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:1:p:272-:d:127997
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    11. Bonisoli, Lorenzo & Piedra-Muñoz, Laura & Galdeano-Gómez, Emilio & Pérez Mesa, Juan Carlos, 2019. "Benchmarking agri-food sustainability certifications: evidences from applying SAFA in the Ecuadorian banana agri-system," MPRA Paper 119956, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Leah L. Bremer & Kim Falinski & Casey Ching & Christopher A. Wada & Kimberly M. Burnett & Kanekoa Kukea-Shultz & Nicholas Reppun & Gregory Chun & Kirsten L.L. Oleson & Tamara Ticktin, 2018. "Biocultural Restoration of Traditional Agriculture: Cultural, Environmental, and Economic Outcomes of Lo‘i Kalo Restoration in He‘eia, O‘ahu," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, November.
    13. Nesar Ahmed & Shirley Thompson & Giovanni M. Turchini, 2020. "Organic aquaculture productivity, environmental sustainability, and food security: insights from organic agriculture," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(6), pages 1253-1267, December.
    14. Sabrina Magaly Navas Cajamarca & Douglas Martins & Juscimar da Silva & Mariana Rodrigues Fontenelle & Ítalo Moraes Rocha Guedes & Cícero Célio de Figueiredo & Carlos Eduardo Pacheco Lima, 2019. "Heterogeneity in the Chemical Composition of Biofertilizers, Potential Agronomic Use, and Heavy Metal Contents of Different Agro-Industrial Wastes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-13, April.
    15. Sapinas, I.P. & Abbott, L.K., 2020. "Soil Fertility Management Based on Certified Organic Agriculture Standards – a Review," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(2).
    16. Chantal Gascuel & Michèle Tixier-Boichard & Benoit Dedieu & Cécile Détang-Dessendre & Pierre Dupraz & Philippe Faverdin & Laurent Hazard & Philippe Hinsinger & Isabelle Litrico-Chiarelli & Françoise M, 2019. "Réflexion prospective interdisciplinaire pour l’agroécologie. Rapport de synthèse," Post-Print hal-02154433, HAL.
    17. Adityawarman Adil & Rizal Syarief & Widiatmaka & Mukhamad Najib, 2022. "Stakeholder Analysis and Prioritization of Sustainable Organic Farming Management: A Case Study of Bogor, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.

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