THE CONTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC FARMING TO THE MITIGATION OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE IN COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL FARMING

Abstract

The climate system is determined by a complex system of variables, basically by the emission of fossil fuels and other gases. This brings about a global warming of the earth’s surface that alters natural energy cycles, thereby causing a serious environmental impact. There is a wide consensus that global warming of the earth is caused by an increase in the culturally induced emissions of different Greenhouse Gases. Spain has undertaken to limit the increase of net emissions of 6 Greenhouse Gases by 15% compared to emissions in 1990, taken as a base year, for the fi ve year period from 2008 to 2012. In 2004, the annual index of emissions in Spain was at around 145% which greatly exceeds the 115% to which Spain had committed. As a permanent system of sustained production, ecological agriculture (EA) can bring about a notable reduction of CO2, due to the energy savings achieved by maintaining soil fertility using internal inputs (rotations, green manure, cultivation of pulses, etc.), by the absence of plant protection products and synthesis fertilizers and low levels of externalization of cattle feeding. The effi ciency of carbon capture in ecological production systems is 41.5t of CO2 per hectare, whilst in conventional production systems it is reduced to 21.3t of CO2 per hectare.