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Changes in crop rotations would impact food production in an organically farmed world

Author

Listed:
  • Pietro Barbieri

    (UMR 1391 ISPA
    UMR 1391 ISPA)

  • Sylvain Pellerin

    (UMR 1391 ISPA)

  • Verena Seufert

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Thomas Nesme

    (UMR 1391 ISPA)

Abstract

The debate about organic farming productivity has often focused on its relative crop yields compared with conventional farming. However, conversion to organic farming not only results in changes in crop yields, but also in changes in the types of crops grown. To date, the effects of such changes on global crop production have never been systematically investigated. Here, we provide a novel, spatially explicit estimation of the distribution of crop types grown, as well as crop production, under a scenario of 100% conversion of current cropland to organic farming. Our analysis shows a decrease of −31% harvested area, with primary cereals (wheat, rice and maize) compensated by an increase in the harvested areas with temporary fodders (+63%), secondary cereals (+27%) and pulses (+26%) compared with the conventional situation. These changes, paired with organic-to-conventional yield gaps, lead to a −27% gap in energy production from croplands compared with current production. We found that ~1/3 of this gap is explained by changes in the types of crops grown (a contribution rising to 50% when focusing on food crops only), and that such changes strongly affect the repartition of total production among different crop types. Feeding the world organically would thus require profound adaptations of human diets and animal husbandry.

Suggested Citation

  • Pietro Barbieri & Sylvain Pellerin & Verena Seufert & Thomas Nesme, 2019. "Changes in crop rotations would impact food production in an organically farmed world," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(5), pages 378-385, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:2:y:2019:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0259-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0259-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu, Qiangyi & Xiang, Mingtao & Sun, Zhanli & Wu, Wenbin, 2021. "The complexity of measuring cropland use intensity: An empirical study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    2. Karin Kauer & Sandra Pärnpuu & Liina Talgre & Viacheslav Eremeev & Anne Luik, 2021. "Soil Particulate and Mineral-Associated Organic Matter Increases in Organic Farming under Cover Cropping and Manure Addition," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Jie Zhao & Ji Chen & Damien Beillouin & Hans Lambers & Yadong Yang & Pete Smith & Zhaohai Zeng & Jørgen E. Olesen & Huadong Zang, 2022. "Global systematic review with meta-analysis reveals yield advantage of legume-based rotations and its drivers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Xia, Haiyong & Qiao, Yuetong & Li, Xiaojing & Xue, Yanhui & Wang, Na & Yan, Wei & Xue, Yanfang & Cui, Zhenling & van der Werf, Wopke, 2023. "Moderation of nitrogen input and integration of legumes via intercropping enable sustainable intensification of wheat-maize double cropping in the North China Plain: A four-year rotation study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    5. Niraj Prakash Joshi & Luni Piya, 2021. "Food and Nutrient Supply from Organic Agriculture in the Least Developed Countries and North America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Shen, Ge & Yu, Qiangyi & Zhou, Qingbo & Wang, Cong & Wu, Wenbin, 2023. "From multiple cropping frequency to multiple cropping system: A new perspective for the characterization of cropland use intensity," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    7. Carlson, Andrea & Greene, Catherine & Raszap Skorbiansky, Sharon & Hitaj, Claudia & Ha, Kim & Cavigelli, Michel & Ferrier, Peyton & McBride, William, 2023. "U.S. Organic Production, Markets, Consumers, and Policy, 2000-21," USDA Miscellaneous 333551, United States Department of Agriculture.

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