Soaring prices and climate change expose fertilisers as economically and environmentally unsustainable
PRESS RELEASE 06/12/2008 (version 1) Categories: Press Releases 2008 | Downloads and other links
As oil and gas prices rise so does the price of artificial chemical fertilisers - the lynch-pin of industrial agriculture’s claims to be ‘efficient’ [1]. In the UK, the price of nitrogen fertiliser has doubled over the past year to around £330 per tonne. With oil currently at over $130 a barrel and with OPEC warning it could reach $200 by the end of the year, it has been suggested that fertilisers could hit £500 a tonne. At these prices, the claimed efficiency of fossil-fuel and fertiliser dependent industrial farming begins to collapse. Robin Maynard, campaigns director at the Soil Association said, "Rising oil and gas prices and the imperative of cutting greenhouse gases to curb climate change expose industrial agriculture’s dependency on artificial fertilisers as both economically and environmentally unsustainable. Farmers here in the UK and in developing countries would do better for themselves and the planet by shifting to sustainable organic farming that builds fertility using the Sun’s energy and Nature’s own fertiliser factory, clover." [2] The environmental imperative of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80% across all sectors to curb dangerous climate change make intensive agriculture’s dependence on nitrogen fertiliser unsustainable: The manufacture of nitrogen fertiliser is the main use of energy in agriculture; accounting for 37% of total energy use [3] Globally, agriculture is the single largest source of the greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide - which is over 310 times more damaging than carbon dioxide The fertiliser industry is the largest industrial user of natural gas in the EU Each tonne of fertiliser made, gives off 6.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gases Fertiliser manufacture is also a major user of water, consuming 37 tonnes of water to make 1 tonne of nitrogen fertiliser. Organic farming does not use artificial chemical fertilisers, instead building soil fertility through crop rotations and particularly the use of clover to fix nitrogen naturally from the atmosphere using the Sun’s energy and photosynthesis. Clover can fix 200 kg of nitrogen per hectare over a year. Average applications of N fertiliser across all arable and grassland are 110 kg/ha (arable = 150kg/ha; grassland = 77kg/ha) [4]. Contrary to the claims of the agrochemical and GM lobby, many farmers in developing countries are increasing their yields and building fertility without expensive, environmentally damaging artificial fertilisers. Farmers in Ethiopia have achieved 5-fold increases in yields by supplementing traditional methods with modern organic techniques, such as composting. Dr Tewolde Berhan Egziabher, Head of the Ethiopian Environment Agency said, "In a harsh climate and a largely agricultural economy we need to rediscover an approach to agriculture which supports long-term food security and protects soil fertility. Organic farming is the way forward for Ethiopia, and it is also an approach which can help to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions caused by mechanised farming and the petrochemical inputs in richer countries." Dr Tewolde views are underpinned by Danish research presented to a UN Conference in 2007 that found that that in sub-Saharan Africa, a conversion of up to 50 per cent of agriculture to organic methods would be likely to increase food availability and decrease food import dependency. Organic yields can fall off to begin with, typically by only 10-15 per cent, but it brings greater benefits in that poor farmers no longer have to rely on expensive, imported fertilisers and pesticides. Other published research by the University of Michigan reviewing over 290 studies found that in developed countries, organic systems on average produce 92% of the yield produced by conventional agriculture. In developing countries, however, organic systems produce 80% more than conventional farms [5]. Commenting on the research Alexander Mueller, assistant director-general of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation said considering climate change will target the world’s poor and most vulnerable, "a shift to organic agriculture could be beneficial." [6] ENDS For more information please contact: Robin Maynard, Soil Association campaigns director: 0117 987 4607 / 07932 040452 Soil Association press office: 0117 914 2448 / press@soilassociation.org Notes to editors [1] New threat to food system: pricey fertilizer, Russell Blinch and Roberta Rampton, June 10 2008, Reuters.com http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSN20324889._CH_.2400 WASHINGTON/WINNIPEG (Reuters) - ‘It powered the Green Revolution and helped save millions from starvation, but now one of the most important tools on the farm is being priced out of reach for many of the world's growers. With food prices soaring and stocks thinning, the world is in need of bumper harvests but once one of most bountiful of commodities, fertilizer, is becoming scarce and expensive.’ [2] According to Defra research, organic farming typically uses 26% less energy to produce the same amount of food as non-organic agriculture: ‘Energy use in organic farming systems’, 2000, Defra report, OFO182; ‘Developing and delivering environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of agricultural systems, Defra project (ISO222), Cranfield University, Williams, A.G. [3] Agriculture in the UK, Defra, 2004 http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/publications/auk/2004/default.asp [4] Fertiliser Statistics, 2005 report, AIC [5] Organic farming could feed the world NewScientist.com news service report 3:46 12 July 2007 Journal reference: Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (vol 22, p 86) [6] Press reports of UN FAO May Conference, Organic Agriculture & Food Security, 3-5 May 2007, Switch To Organic Farming Won't Hurt World Food Supply, 11th May 07, Dow Jones Newswire top More links Search library with term press releases 2008 Search rest of website with term press releases 2008 top Library documents in Press Releases 2008 category » Wheat yields could halve says scientist 11/19/2008 » Mutant strain of antibiotic-resistant E. coli found in the UK 11/17/2008 » The inconvenient truth about food 11/17/2008 » Soil Association calls on MEPs to ban pesticides which kill bees 11/04/2008 » Celebrate a Soil Association organic Christmas and help safeguard our countryside for future generations 11/04/2008 » Food banned from schools still served up to toddlers in nurseries, new report finds 10/21/2008 » Food Security - an issue for the UK too 10/15/2008 » Soil Association Organic Apprenticeship Scheme - encouraging young people and new entrants into organic farming 10/10/2008 » Soil Association welcomes Climate Change Committee report 10/07/2008 » Soil Association calls for urgent ban on dangerous pesticides linked to honey bee deaths 09/29/2008 » IKEA launches new organic meals nationwide to celebrate Soil Association Organic Fortnight 09/18/2008 » Soil Association responds to David King's attack on organic farming 09/09/2008 » Soil Association Organic Food Award Winners 2008 09/05/2008 » Organic production more profitable as oil prices rise 09/03/2008 » Soil Association Organic Food Festival 2008 09/02/2008 » Soil Association Master Classes in Devon 08/22/2008 » Human health threatened as farm use of life-saving antibiotics increases again 08/21/2008 » Prince of Wales in tune with public and independent scientific opinion on GM 08/13/2008 » Soil Association's new independent Standards Board now complete 08/06/2008 » ‘Love Your Planet, Choose Organic’, Soil Association Organic Fortnight: 6-21 September 2008 07/31/2008 » Soil Association Scotland’s Organic Food Festival September 20th and 21st 2008 07/21/2008 » Soil Association Scotland’s Organic Food Festival September 20th and 21st 2008 07/21/2008 » Soil Association response to Defra on food security in the UK 07/18/2008 » Young Producer weekend highlights organic opportunities 07/02/2008 » 90% of strawberries tested by the government contained pesticides 06/24/2008 » Six steps to transform school food culture 06/23/2008 » Gordon does ‘a Tony’: falls for GM hype 06/19/2008 » Cycle or walk to work and enjoy a free organic breakfast 06/13/2008 » Soaring prices and climate change expose fertilisers as economically and environmentally unsustainable 06/12/2008 » UNEP World Environment Day ignores key role food and farming can play in ‘kicking the CO2 habit’ and curbing climate change 06/03/2008 » Growing opportunities for organic arable production in the UK 06/02/2008 » Farm-animal MRSA strain found in the UK 06/02/2008 » Reason for health benefits of organic milk discovered in new study 05/27/2008 » Soil Association astounded that Natural England ignores food in its new manifesto 05/19/2008 » Tesco carbon footprint study confirms organic farming’s energy efficiency but excludes key climate benefit of organic farming – soil carbon 04/28/2008 » New Soil Association report shows GM crops do not yield more - sometimes less 04/25/2008 » Report confirms that organic farming can contribute to world food security and tackling climate change 04/15/2008 » Winners announced: Soil Association Organic Awards recognising innovation, business leadership and commitment to the organic industry 04/14/2008 » Good quality, organic bread offers benefits for growers, suppliers and consumers 03/12/2008 » Organic vegetables bicycled in from Berkshire for star-studded charity banquet 03/11/2008 » Ensuring limited organic air freight is fair and ethical 03/06/2008 » Get out and about on an organic farm this Easter 03/05/2008 » The Feast of Albion - a sumptuous organic and locally sourced banquet hosted by Quintessentially in aid of The Soil Association 03/03/2008 » Soil Association response to Horizon programme 02/22/2008 » Prince convinces NHS chief execs to serve ‘healthy, seasonal, local and organic’ hospital food 02/06/2008 » How to get a Taste of the Good Life 01/31/2008 » Soil Association renews call for ban on additives – backed by Parliamentary Committee 01/31/2008 » Another good reason to avoid factory-farmed chickens and eggs! Government study shows Salmonella levels over five times higher in intensive egg production than organic 01/30/2008 » Soil Association helping organic farmers meet demand 01/25/2008 » Food culture crisis goes wider than obesity, says the Food for Life Partnership 01/23/2008 » Budding bee-keepers, bakers and candle-stick makers wanted to enjoy 'A Taste of the Good Life' 01/23/2008 » Soil Association welcomes the Government's renewed interest in diet related ill-health 01/22/2008 » Biofuels – exposed as ‘good’ for agribusiness, bad for planet 01/21/2008 » Soil Association first organisation in the world to ban nanoparticles - potentially toxic beauty products that get right under your skin 01/17/2008 » Soil Association organic chickens truly range freely 01/14/2008 » Success on a plate: boost your business by supplying restaurants and caterers 01/14/2008 » Where’s the beef? - report shows UK beef producers are getting short-changed 01/07/2008 » Less than 30% of organic potato farmers used copper last year, with the availability of blight resistant varieties 01/03/2008 (: archived document)
Address of this document: http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/librarytitles/2538A.HTMl
top