Summary
This meta-analysis, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, synthesises a large body of comparative yield data to reassess the commonly cited organic yield gap. Ponisio et al. find that the gap between organic and conventional yields is narrower than previously estimated when diversification practices such as multi-cropping and crop rotations are employed. The study argues that the yield penalty of organic agriculture is not fixed and can be meaningfully reduced through appropriate agronomic diversification strategies.
UK applicability
The findings are broadly applicable to UK arable and mixed farming contexts, where policy interest in agro-ecological transitions and diversified cropping systems is growing under post-Brexit agricultural support frameworks such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive. UK practitioners considering organic conversion may find the evidence on yield gap reduction through diversification particularly relevant.
Key measures
Yield ratio (organic vs conventional); percentage yield gap reduction attributable to diversification practices; crop type and management practice as moderating variables
Outcomes reported
The study quantified the yield gap between organic and conventional farming systems and assessed how specific diversification practices — such as multi-cropping, crop rotations, and intercropping — affect that gap. It reported that diversification practices can substantially reduce the organic yield gap relative to conventional monoculture systems.
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