State of Science :: Environment

 

Shades of Green: Quantifying the Benefits of Organic Dairy Production
The Center has developed a calculator to estimate certain pesticide, nitrogen fertilizer, and animal drug related "avoided impacts" associated with organic dairy farming.

 

"In defense of corn ethanol"
Kirk Leonard offers a different perspective on the impacts and promise of corn-based ethanol.

 

"Corn Ethanol Allure Plummets"
Commentary on the high costs and environmental shortcomings of corn-based ethanol by Organic Center Board member Dr. David Pimentel.

 

Another Perspective on Heavy Metals and "Rusted Roots"
OMRI's Research Director, Brian Baker, provides a cogent summary of the challenges faced by all farmers in avoiding problems with heavy metal contamination.

 

Habitat Destruction Driven by Misguided Efforts to Promote Food Safety
These pictures tell a thousand words.

Buyers of fresh cut leafy greens are forcing California farmers to pursue a "bare-earth" policy that is bad for the environment, wildlfie, and farmers. Even worse, removing habaitat and grass cover is more likely to increase food safety risks than reduce them.

 

Scientists Estimate That Pesticides are Reducing Legume Crop Yields by ONE-THIRD Through Impaired Nitrogen Fixation
The impacts of pesticides on nitrogen fixation by Rhizobia bacteria is much greater than previously thought. An important new study links this impairment of signalling processes within plants, and between plants and soil bacteria, to pesticides and other soil contaminants.

 

Organic Farming Improves Soil Quality
Nine long-term trials show that after an average of 10 years organic farming increases soil organic matter content by about 14% compared to conventional farming.

 

Assessing Soil Quality in Organic Agriculture
Tracking and managing changes in soil quality as farmland is transitioned from conventional to organic production is among the critical challenges facing farmers. This "Critical Issue Report" (CIR) was written by two leading Agricultural Research Service scientists, describes a "minimum data set" approach to manage changes in soil quality.

 

Impacts of Organic Farming on the Efficiency of Energy Use in Agriculture
State of Science Review on the impacts of organic production systems on the efficiency of energy use in farm production.