Summary
De Ponti et al. (2012) conducted a meta-analysis synthesising data from a large number of published studies to estimate the yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems. The analysis, published in Agricultural Systems, found that organic yields are on average approximately 80% of conventional yields, though the gap varies considerably by crop type and location. The paper provides a quantitative baseline for policy discussions on the land-use implications of transitioning to organic production at scale.
UK applicability
The findings are broadly applicable to UK agricultural policy, particularly in the context of debates around the Environmental Land Management scheme and the potential land-use trade-offs of expanding organic farming in England, Scotland, and Wales. UK-specific yield ratios may differ from global averages due to climate, soil type, and existing farm management practices.
Key measures
Organic-to-conventional yield ratio; crop-specific yield differentials; number of paired observations across studies
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the yield difference between organic and conventional farming across a wide range of crops and regions, reporting an average yield ratio of organic relative to conventional production. It examined how the yield gap varies by crop type, region, and management context.
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