Discussion on the environmental impact of agriculture

Is organic agriculture really worse for the environment? It is a perspective of the article  2017 Environ. Res. Lett. 12 064016,  which shows the relative potential of a couple of strategies impacting the environmental footprint of agriculture and its upstream activities, using currently available life cycle assessments. Analyzing several environmental impacts, the authors compare the influence of different food types, methods of food production, and levels of agricultural input-use efficiency.

This short overview puts in perspective some aspects that should be taken into consideration and studied more deeply to make fruitful decisions about the future of the food production system. There is a need for a soil management philosophy with sufficient productivity and respectful of the environment by using no harmful substances and increase the efficiency for fertilizers, space and energy.

It suggests that, more than ever, a careful and deep change of the practice of agriculture is needed to achieve environmental sustainability. Actions on more than one factor are needed; a new way of practicing soil management needs to take into consideration not only yields for the human food needs, or the GHG emission and water consumption in relation with climate mitigation or resource management, but a holistic approach that considers the long term and the mutual influences these aspects have on each other.  

This is an opportunity to develop the up-sides of organic agriculture, corrects its short comings in energy efficiency, land surface use and further improve its environmental and health advantages. Methods as intercropping - based methods, appear to be a promising direction to pursue, to help to mitigate the challenges behind climate change, GHG emissions, soil erosion, deforestation and land use.