Expanding Organic Cropland Can Lead to Increased Pesticide Use, Study Finds

  • 📰 staronline
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 39 sec. here
  • 6 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 33%
  • Publisher: 75%

Environment News

Organic Farming,Pesticide Use,Environmental Impact

A new study published in Science reveals that expanding organic cropland can result in increased pesticide use in surrounding non-organic fields, offsetting some environmental benefits. The study suggests that clustering organic farms together and separating them from conventional farms can help mitigate these harmful effects.

Although organic agricultural practices generally improve environmental conditions such as soil and water quality, the trade-offs aren't very well understood. — AFP

These harmful “spillover effects” can be mitigated if organic farms are clustered together and geographically separated from conventional farms, the researchers found. For example, organic fields could harbour more beneficial species that prey on insects, such birds, spiders and predatory beetles and fewer pests. Or, the lack of chemical pesticides and genetically modified seeds could mean they harbour more pests.

The team paired digitised maps of fields and the crops grown on them with records of pesticide applications and whether a field had an organic certification. But the situation could be completely remedied if organic fields were grouped together, the researchers found, based on a less-detailed national level analysis they also carried out.

Organic Farming Pesticide Use Environmental Impact Sustainable Agriculture

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 4. in MY

Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Malaysian couple's 2-storey home embraces modern organic and Korean chic styleThe former couple's romance reveal had sparked backlash among angry fans.
Source: staronline - 🏆 4. / 75 Read more »

Malaysia Converts Food Scraps into Organic Fertiliser to Reduce WastageA modest government initiative in Malaysia aims to reduce food wastage during Ramadan by converting food scraps into organic fertiliser. A mobile machine has been deployed in the state capital Kuantan, processing 25 kilograms of scraps a day. Although a small amount compared to the daily food sent to landfills, it is helping to raise awareness about the issue.
Source: theSundaily - 🏆 25. / 51 Read more »

Kelington expanding reach to Germany and Hong KongPETALING JAYA: Integrated engineering solutions provide Kelington Group Bhd is taking a step forward in its global growth strategy by expanding into G...
Source: theSundaily - 🏆 25. / 51 Read more »

Expanding lodging options for touristsA letter from DR ARULKUMARAN VIAPURI
Source: staronline - 🏆 4. / 75 Read more »

Led by its ever expanding durian market, Vietnam agricultural product exports boom in first months of 2024My mother hates losing an argument so she resorts to verbal attacks that lack any substance. Before I left, she demanded I pay her a sum of money.
Source: staronline - 🏆 4. / 75 Read more »

Govt Considering To Expand Film Censorship Board's Authority To Streaming ServicesThe Malaysian government is considering expanding the Film Censorship Board's (LPF) authority to include streaming services. This was revealed by home
Source: LowyatNET - 🏆 13. / 59 Read more »