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The intensification of agriculture caused a huge decline in species diversity in agricultural areas in the second half of the 20th century. Slowing down this negative trend is one of the objectives of organic farming. For this purpose, production cycles in organic farming are kept as closed as possible, using environmentally sound production methods. Chemical/synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are banned. As a result, biodiversity is likely to benefit from an increase in organic farming.
On areas farmed organically, the diversity of plants, small animals, and birds tends to be greater than on areas farmed conventionally. As stands formed by organic crops are less dense, more light is allowed to reach the ground, which has a favorable impact on the microclimate promoting species diversity.
Bodies of water also benefit from organic farming, since they will not be loaded with chemical/synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Likewise, efforts to maintain production cycles as closed as possible keep the number of cattle on organic farms adapted to farm size. In other words, organic farmers do not overfertilize the soil, burdening both ground and surface waters with fewer nutrients (BDM indicator E14).
Organic farmers and growers are particularly committed to preserving genetic diversity, growing heirloom vegetable and fruit varieties and breeding heirloom livestock races for the Swiss Pro Specie Rara conservation organization (BDM indicators Z1 and Z2).
The impact of organic farming on species diversity is largely dependent on location, climate, crop plants, and farming methods. For this reason, the M5 indicator does not directly reflect the extent to which organic farming promotes biodiversity. |
