Evidence that organic farming promotes pest control
MITCHELL, Matthew
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Rural, Water, and Ecosystem Resources Unit
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Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Rural, Water, and Ecosystem Resources Unit
MITCHELL, Matthew
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Rural, Water, and Ecosystem Resources Unit
< Reduce
Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Rural, Water, and Ecosystem Resources Unit
Language
en
Article de revue
This item was published in
Nature Sustainability. 2018-07, vol. 1, n° 7, p. 361 - 368
Springer Nature
English Abstract
Ecological intensification of agro-ecosystems, based on the optimization of ecological functions such as biological pest control, to replace agrochemical inputs is a promising route to reduce the ecological footprint of ...Read more >
Ecological intensification of agro-ecosystems, based on the optimization of ecological functions such as biological pest control, to replace agrochemical inputs is a promising route to reduce the ecological footprint of agriculture while maintaining commodity production. However, the performance of organic farming, often considered as a prototype of ecological intensification, in terms of pest control remains largely unknown. Here, using two distinct meta-analyses, we demonstrate that, compared to conventional cropping systems, (i) organic farming promotes overall biological pest control potential, (ii) organic farming has higher levels of overall pest infestations but (iii) that this effect strongly depends on the pest type. Our study shows that there are lower levels of pathogen infestation, similar levels of animal pest infestation and much higher levels of weed infestation in organic than in conventional systems. This study provides evidence that organic farming can enhance pest control and suggests that organic farming offers a way to reduce the use of synthetic pesticide for the management of animal pests and pathogens without increasing their levels of infestation.Read less <
English Keywords
PEST CONTROL
AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS
ECOLOGICAL INTENSIFICATION
ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEMS
Origin
Hal imported