Organic Fortnight Day 3: Better for wildlife and the Environment

In day three of Organic Fortnight, we examine another positive aspect of organic: organic farming methods are better for wildlife and the environment.

According to the Soil Association: overall, organic farming supports more farmland wildlife than non-organic farming. The UK government has said that it is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide - the main global warming gas - and less dangerous wastes.

This reduction in harmful emissions is good news for wildlife, and a happy side effect is an increase in countryside biodiversity. The methods are generally better for farm animals too: research has shown that standards of organic farmers are more concerned about animal welfare, and certain welfare policies are built in to the standards farms have to reach to gain organic certification. For example, tail docking, a common practice used on pigs in intensive farming, is banned in organic farming.

Organic farming has not been universally accepted as being 'better' for the environment, and critics have cited the length of time it takes to produce certain foodstuffs, due to the increased greenhouse emissions of the longer growing and rearing times. But many of these problems only arise where crops are grown out of season, requiring additional heating and resources. By working with the seasons rather than against them, they could be avoided; whether British consumers could live without their fresh tomatoes all year round is another question.

However, nobody can argue that organic farming cuts down drastically on pesticide use and is a more natural way to produce food. In this country, the government is in agreement that organic is good for the earth, as DEFRA offers financial support to farmers who wish to convert to organic production.