Summary
This cross-national correlative analysis examined which farming strategies—input reduction, organic production, and GM crop adoption—correlate with progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals across 121 countries. The study found that countries with higher human development, better income equality, and greater food security paradoxically showed both higher organic production and higher input intensity; input-intensive strategies were associated with greater agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, whilst GM crop adoption showed poorest alignment with reduced inequalities. The authors hypothesise that national development level drives agricultural strategy choices rather than vice versa.
UK applicability
The findings suggest that UK agricultural policy aiming for sustainability must account for the context of existing development, income structures, and infrastructure, rather than assuming that shifting to either organic or GM strategies alone will drive sustainability improvements. The observed associations between input intensity and emissions may inform UK climate-focused farm support mechanisms.
Key measures
Input intensity per area (fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation), percentage of agriculture in organic production, GM crop adoption, 12 FAO sustainability metrics, Human Development Index, income equality, food insecurity, cereal yields, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
Outcomes reported
The study identified correlations between farming strategies (input intensity, GM crop adoption, organic production) and 12 UN Food and Agriculture Organization sustainability metrics across 121 countries. It analysed longitudinal data (2004–2018) to distinguish correlational patterns and hypothesised causal relationships between national development and agricultural strategy adoption.
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