Organic Farming Found To Be More Energy Efficient Than Conventional

Canadian researchers who reviewed 130 scientific articles have concluded that organic farming is significantly more energy efficient than conventional farming, saving as much as 20 percent or more, except in the poultry, hog and fruit sectors. The researchers looked at whole-farm energy use and energy efficiency both on a per hectare and per farm product basis. According to lead author David Lynch, the findings validate the opinion of many organic famers that their farming systems have a much lower footprint in terms of energy. Based on the study's estimate that farm energy use accounts for 35 per cent of the total energy used in the food chain, a 20 percent reduction at the organic farm level results in a seven percent reduction for the whole food chain.