Why organic is better for wildlife

Organic farms are havens for wildlife. Organic farming is a form of agroecology - a way of producing food that works with nature.  Protecting wildlife and minimising the impact of farming on the natural world is central to how organic food is grown.

By following nature's cycles and practising environmentally sustainable land management, organic systems are designed to benefit wildlife and the natural world. These diverse landscapes support bees, birds, butterflies and many other species by providing the food and shelter they need.

Choosing food that comes from organic farms is a great way to support a wealth of wildlife.

Why is wildlife under threat?

It's never been more important to protect our wildlife, especially insects.

We are losing insects eight times faster than mammals, birds and reptiles (Sanchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys, 2019), and intensive farming practices are the main cause of their decline. A major global report states that insects could vanish within a century.

The sections below explain the main causes of insect decline.

Why are insects important?

Not only are insects a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, providing food for other animals and cycling nutrients, they also play an essential role in our global food system.

Bees and other insects drink the sweet nectar of flowers. As they move between flowers, they transfer pollen which fertilises the plant, enabling it to produce seeds. We call these insects pollinators. Three quarters of food crops depend on pollinators (Klein and others, 2007), and without them, we wouldn't have foods like courgettes, strawberries, tomatoes or coffee.

How do organic farms protect wildlife?

Organic farming protects wildlife by working with nature. This includes reducing pesticide use, creating richer habitats and supporting the health of the soil.

Fewer Pesticides

Organic farming uses virtually no pesticides. Instead, organic farmers must manage pests using natural methods, like crop rotations, and by attracting beneficial insects (the natural predators of pests, like ladybirds, which eat aphids).

Organic farmers are permitted to use just 20 pesticides, compared to around 400 in non-organic farming. These 20 pesticides are derived from natural ingredients, like citronella and clove oil, and are only permitted under very restricted circumstances.

Nature-friendly land use

Fostering biodiversity, protecting sensitive habitats, and working within natural systems are all key principles of organic food production. Organic farming aims to minimise disruption to the natural environment, producing food in a way that works with nature, not against it.

Maintenance of hedgerows, ponds and woodland is all part of being an organic farmer. In organic systems, these on-site natural resources benefit the farm too. Learn more about how we're helping farmers to plant more trees on their farms.

Promoting healthier soils

Wildlife doesn't just exist above ground. In fact, our soils are home to a quarter of the Earth's species, from worms and fungi, to tiny microorganisms. Did you know that one gram of soil may harbour up to 10 billion micro-organisms, most of which are still unexplored? Sadly, around half of pesticides used in the UK are fungicides, and these may be damaging this underground life, and the health of our soils.

Whether you have a window box or an allotment plot, we can all make a difference for our soils.

Organic farming is based on:

• nourishing the soil

• lowering the risk of plant disease, to reduce the need for fungicides in the first place

• building soil fertility through composting and crop rotation, and using legumes to fix nitrogen, rather than energy-hungry synthetic fertilisers.

It is no surprise, therefore, that organic farms have healthier soils, with more earthworms and a more diverse range of microbes living in the soil too.

Supporting cleaner water for wildlife

The nitrogen fertilisers that are used in conventional farming can create ocean dead zones, which deprive life below water of vital oxygen. Organic standards ban the use of these fertilisers, so organic farming lowers the risk of pollution for wildlife in rivers and waterways too.

In light of our current biodiversity crisis, it’s never been more important that we rethink the way we produce our food. Agroecological farming systems, like organic, offer real solutions to the decline of insects and other wildlife.

By reducing pesticide use, taking care of our soils and waterways and providing nature-friendly habitats, we can protect these vital species and harness their amazing benefits as part of an ecologically balanced farming system.