Organic yields can also be improved. In a 43-year Pennsylvania agricultural study, organic yields were generally similar to conventional yields and were 30% higher during periods of extreme weather.
Verena Seupert, a sustainability scientist who studies agriculture at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, said that while such yields are “very rare” in the real world, she is confident that further research into organic management could lead to improvements.
What is the soil like?
Some studies show that soils from organic farms sequester more carbon than soils from conventional farms, but there is fierce debate about how much carbon they sequester and for how long.
In other words, healthy soils are critical to long-term food security. Dr. Seufert hypothesized that organic soils are more climate resilient, but said there isn’t enough research yet to draw “firm and definitive conclusions.”
So what's the bottom line?
If your only concern is climate change, scientists agree that the most impactful dietary choice you can make is to reduce your consumption of animal products and reduce food waste.
The scientists we interviewed all said they buy organic produce. But they cited people rather than the planet as their biggest motivation. This means that on organic farms, workers are exposed to fewer pesticides.
“That’s the key thing for me,” Dr. Boles said. “The chemical exposures that conventional agriculture brings are very, very real to the people who grow it. And that’s where I think organic has a very clear advantage.”
Organic food may also be better for those who eat it. A 2018 study found that organic foods may lower cancer risk, but the National Institute on Cancer says eating fruits and vegetables, organic or not, is most important.
Dr. Seufert also noted that organic farming can benefit the environment in important ways, including improving biodiversity and water quality. Ultimately, she hopes the rise of organic farming will push industrial food systems to consider environmental and human impacts, not just yields and profits.
“I don’t think eating organic food can save the planet.” she said “But I think this is an important part of the solution.”