The benefits of organic farming have been researched for decades. Nevertheless, the debate about its benefits remains controversial, particularly in the areas of soil fertility, biodiversity, climate protection and adaptation, resource efficiency, water conservation and animal welfare. With the participation of Thünen scientists, researchers have therefore analysed more than 500 studies from the last thirty years comparing organic and conventional farming. The result: organic farming has clear advantages over conventional farming in terms of environmental protection and resource conservation. For example, the average number of species of arable flora in organic farming is 95 per cent higher, that of field birds 35 per cent higher and that of flower-visiting insects 23 per cent higher. The differences can be explained above all by the systemic approach that organic farming pursues. It is therefore a key concept for sustainable land use. The Thünen Institute of Farm Economics coordinated the project, while the Thünen Institute of Organic Farming was responsible for the animal welfare sub-project.
The meta-study is the largest of its kind to date and is the first to include animal welfare in the environmental and social benefits of organic farming. The results indicate that animal health depends less on organic or conventional farming methods and more on individual farm management. However, where the main risk factors for animal health are taken into account, in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation, organic farms perform better. For example, the regulations for bedding and space ensure that the animals' hooves and limbs are healthier - lameness and joint damage, thus, play less of a role.
So far, only a few studies have taken into account animal behaviour and emotional well-being in addition to animal health. This is where the advantages of organic livestock farming can be seen, for example as the animals have more space or are allowed to roam or graze. The guidelines of organic farming offer great potential, but no guarantee, for a better animal welfare situation. They support for example, that animals can behave in a species-appropriate manner.
With regard to animal welfare, the authors of the study recommend supplementing the purely husbandry and management-oriented provisions with result-oriented controls in order to better incorporate animal health in the future. Animals can only be checked in person to see whether they are doing well all round, specifically whether they are healthy and comfortable.
The recent publication was produced under the leadership of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in interdisciplinary cooperation with eight institutions in Germany. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) as part of the Federal Organic Farming Programme.
