Summary
This modelling study examines whether global conversion to organic agriculture is compatible with sustainable food production and consumption. The authors demonstrate that whilst 100% organic conversion alone requires more land and faces nitrogen supply challenges, combining it with reductions in food waste, crop-competing animal feed, and lower consumption of animal products keeps total land use below conventional baseline scenarios and improves multiple environmental indicators. The work underscores that sustainable food systems require integrated strategies across production, livestock–crop interdependencies, and consumption patterns rather than single-sector interventions.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK policy on sustainable intensification and organic food production targets. The model's emphasis on dietary composition and food waste reduction alongside production methods aligns with UK food security and environmental strategies, though application would require calibration to UK-specific agronomic conditions, consumption patterns, and supply chains.
Key measures
Land use (hectares), nitrogen surplus (N kg/ha or total), pesticide use (quantity or toxicity metrics), greenhouse gas emissions, food wastage reduction, animal product consumption levels
Outcomes reported
The study used a food systems model to evaluate land use, nitrogen surplus, pesticide use, and greenhouse gas emissions under 100% organic agriculture conversion, with and without complementary dietary and waste reduction strategies. It assessed whether organic agriculture could meet global food demand sustainably whilst identifying key constraints such as nitrogen supply adequacy.
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