Integrating the environmental and economic consequences of converting to organic agriculture: evidence from a case study

In the current debate about the future of food quality, the merits of organ ic agriculture are frequently championed, but few studies have sought to in tegrate the changes in soil conditions, biodiversity and socio-economic wel fare linked to the conversion from non-organic to organic production. This article aims to undertake this approach with respect to one case study. Its conclusions may not be representative for all organic conversions, but the findings are of relevance at a time of debate over changing patterns of su bsidies and other incentives in agricultural policy. The study showed that there were demonstrable differences in overall environmental conditions in the comparison of organic and non-organic farming, with held evidence of in creased species diversity, and an eventual improvement in the profitability of the organic farming regime. The broad conclusion is that there are defi nite environmental and economic advantages arising from organic agriculture that are not fully reflected in the present pattern of agricultural incent ives. The study also showed that variations in farm management practice str ongly influence the notion of on-farm and off-farm environmental consequenc es. The implications of these findings for the future of sustainable agricu lture and for interdisciplinary science are also discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.