Science publishes its first European paper on organic agriculture
FiBL Press Release, 30.5.2002
(Frick, 30.5.2002) Organic agriculture is finally
making its presence felt in the worldwide scientific community.
For the last 24 years the DOK trial has compared conventional
agricultural practice with organic agriculture; its findings will
be presented at the end of May in the renowned scientific journal
Science. The experiment yields impressive statistics which
demonstrate that organic agriculture is kinder to the environment,
more efficient and more sustainable.
The latest issue of Science
dated 31.5.2002 contains the summary of an experimental comparison
of farming systems which has been carried out in Therwil near Basel
in Switzerland for the last 24 years. This trial, which compares
three systems of agricultural production biodynamic, organic and
conventional (or integrated) farming is known as the DOK trial (an
acronym derived from the German designations biologisch-dynamisch,
organisch-biologisch and konventionell).
Nowhere in the world has such a long-term study been conducted.
Publication of the findings in this authoritative scientific journal
signifies a definitive breakthrough for organic farming research.
This is the first time that the journal Science
has carried a European paper on organic farming research. The results
of the experiment will have highly significant political, scientific
and economic implications for conservation of the agricultural production
base and natural biodiversity.
The DOK trial demonstrates that organic crop production is amazingly
efficient. Although expenditure on fertilizers and energy was 50%
lower and pesticide use was 97% lower, yields of organic crops over
a 21-year period were only 20% lower on average.
The DOK trial is also informative on the issue of soil fertility,
which is clearly encouraged by organic husbandry. Double the numbers
of soil microorganisms, earthworms and ground beetles are found
in the study's organic plots. Organic production systems rely in
part on organic soil activity to achieve considerable yields using
lower inputs of non-renewable resources while maintaining higher
soil fertility and better soil structure.
The organic plots not only exhibited higher soil-organism activity,
but also a greater diversity of microorganism, weed and ground beetle
species. Hence organic farming helps to maintain high levels of
biodiversity despite agricultural use of the land. The active, diverse
communities of microorganisms ensured efficient use of organic sources
of carbon in the soil. It is particularly interesting that the evidence
points to a definite correlation between efficient above-ground
production (energy input per unit of yield) and efficient production
in the soil (soil respiration per unit of microbial biomass). When
subjected to intensive interventions via fertilizers and pesticides,
the microorganisms evidently become stressed and make heavier demands
on resources for their own survival.
The DOK trial is being conducted in Switzerland by the Research
Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Frick and the Swiss
Federal Research Station for Agroecology and Agriculture (FAL) in
Zürich-Reckenholz. It will be continued for at least the
next four years and probably longer still.
The following people will gladly provide further information
- For technical questions concerning the trial:
Paul Mäder, Trial Manager, Research Institute of Organic
Agriculture (FiBL), Postfach, CH-5070 Frick, Tel. 0041 (0)62 865
72 72
- For general questions on organic agriculture:
Helga Willer, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
(FiBL), Postfach, CH-5070 Frick, Tel. 0041 (0)62 865 72
72
Urs Niggli, Director, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
(FiBL), Postfach, CH-5070 Frick, Tel. 0041 (0)62 865 72 72,
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