Hipsters and Instagram influencers everywhere hardest hit, along with Cult of Climastrology members who hate modern food
Organically farmed food has a bigger climate impact than conventionally farmed food due to the greater areas of land required, according to a new study. Researchers have developed a new method for assessing the climate impact from land-use, and used this, along with other methods, to compare organic and conventional food production. The results show that organic food can result in much greater emissions. But some points of the study are being challenged by advocates in the organic farming sector.
The researchers – involving the Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden – created the novel metric for calculating the carbon footprint of specific land use.
“Our study shows that organic peas, farmed in Sweden, have around a 50 percent bigger climate impact than conventionally farmed peas. For some foodstuffs, there is an even bigger difference. For example, with organic Swedish winter wheat the difference is closer to 70 percent,†says Stefan Wirsenius, an associate professor from Chalmers, and one of those responsible for the study.
The reason why “organic food is so much worse for the climate†is that the yields per hectare are much lower, primarily because fertilizers are not used, notes the research.
The bigger part of all this is that money, probably from taxpayers, was wasted looking at this subject.
And, of course, the organic producers do not like the study, but, they couldn’t actually dispute it.
The researchers do recognize that organic farming does not use fertilizers and the goal is to use resources like energy, land and water in a long-term, sustainable way. Crops are primarily nurtured through nutrients present in the soil and the main aims are greater biological diversity and a balance between animal and plant sustainability. Only naturally derived pesticides are used.
Yes, they’re farming like it’s 1499. The more modern methods generally mean that the food is much safer, doesn’t have diseases or bugs, there is a higher crop yield, and it’s modern.
“The arguments for organic food focus on consumers’ health, animal welfare and different aspects of environmental policy. There is good justification for these arguments, but at the same time, there is a lack of scientific evidence to show that organic food is in general healthier and more environmentally friendly than conventionally farmed food, according to the National Food Administration of Sweden and others,†says a PR statement from the researchers.
Well, it’s certainly not better for the climate, if we’re to use the Warmists talking points about carbon footprints and such.
