The Rodale Institute published “The Farming Systems Trial” study in 2011, which covered a thirty year time span and focused on sustainable agriculture as a crucial factor to current and future growth. Sustainable systems can regenerate themselves; and for a system to be considered sustainable, it must have the ability to feed the world’s population for one hundred years or more.
One of the elements of the trial study, yields of organic production, produced results which argue the validity of many claims from proponents of genetically modified (GM) crops. The Rodale Institute’s trial revealed:
· For the time they were tested, organic corn, soybean and wheat yields were equal to conventional.
· During times of drought, organic yields were 31% higher than conventional. Some genetically engineered, drought-resistant varieties saw increases from approximately 22% to 46% percent during these droughts.
· Organic corn and soybean tolerance for weed opposition was higher than the conventional varieties. When considering the weeds’ herbicide-resistant qualities versus the organic soil’s increase in productivity and health, this information is especially meaningful.
The other aspects of organic farming versus conventional farming studied in The Rodale Institute’s “The Farming Systems Trial” are economic viability, use of energy, and health of humans. On each topic, Rodale’s trial shows organic farming is superior to that of conventional.
References:
The Farming Systems Trial: Celebrating 30 Years. (2011). Rodale Institute. Retrieved from http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/files/FSTbookletFINAL.pdf
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