May 22, 2007

Decrease Yields, Increase Food Security

by Laura Starita

When scientists proved 150 years ago that chemical fertilizers have a dramatic impact on crop production, the ability of the United States to grow enough food to sustain itself was very much in question. Today, the problem has shifted dramatically. The industrialized U.S. agricultural industry not only produces more than enough to feed Americans, but also the country is overfed, and huge volumes of rice, wheat, soy and corn are exported or purchased by the government for food aid programs. The farm industry argues that this excess is a good thing, necessary for the food security both of the country and developing nations. Most experts now agree, though, that U.S. excess (particularly that excess generated by agricultural subsidies) actually harms farmers in developing countries by driving prices below actual cost. Environmental issues arise as well, as runoff pollutes fresh water sources and chemicals accumulate in soil and limit long-term fertility.

But there is a way to achieve yields that are healthy and earth- and world-market friendly. A recent Danish study concludes that food security in sub-Saharan Africa would not be hurt if half of the agricultural acreage in Western food-exporting countries was converted to organic production by 2020. The findings were supported by a complementary study conducted by the University of Michigan, which showed that a global shift to organic agriculture would produce at least 2,641 kilocalories of nutrients per person daily, just 145 calories less than is currently produced through industrial methods (recommended average daily intake is about 2,000 calories). The resulting rise in world agricultural commodities prices would probably be a good thing.

While wholesale, near-term changes to the global agriculture industry are not likely, nor advisable, these reports show that a move to organic farming potentially has significant benefits for the developing world beyond the environment.

ABC News: Going Organic Could Help World’s Hungry