Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative- the ABCs of Ag
In most grocery stores, we have two choices for produce- organic or conventional. In some stores, there is no organic option, or it’s very limited. When you purchase produce from local farmers through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box, farm stand or farmer’s market, you’ll likely see many other varieties of farming being highlighted- perhaps a small scale biodynamic farm is what feels right!
Read on to learn more about different types of agriculture and some of their pros and cons. It's not one-size-fits-all!
Is organic the “best choice”?
If you’re choosing between that and simply “conventional” at the grocers, then generally, yes.
But the most imporant choice to make is to eat more fruits and vegetables daily.
Not all organic farms are run the same. There can be industrial/ large-scale organic farms that use less synthetic fertilizers and pesticides (which is good for human and environmental health!) but they use monoculture and less sustainable farming practices than small-scale farms.
You may purchase produce that isn’t labeled as “organic” because the farm couldn’t afford the certification process, but still avoids synthetic chemicals. Whether your berries were grown in a way that’s beneficial for ecosystem health isn’t always obvious.
Let’s take a look at a variety of agricultural types and their impacts on the environment, and our health. Remember, these “types” aren’t mutually exclusive. Some farms use these terms and others don’t want to be defined by a category; and many farms include a variety of the different types. For example, organic farms can use mechanized agriculture. And, both biodynamic and regenerative agriculture closely align with organic farming. As noted, there are pros and cons to every type:
Industrial/ Intensive
Industrial and intensive agriculture are terms that are normally used interchangeably to mean a system that uses a high level of inputs to maximize production.
These farms reliably produce large quantities of food at a relatively low price. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), “Industrial agriculture is the large-scale, intensive production of crops and animals, often involving chemical fertilizers on crops or the routine... It may also involve crops that are genetically modified, heavy use of pesticides, and other practices that deplete the land, mistreat animals, and increase various forms of pollution.”
Over the past few decades, many small farms have been consolidated into large, multinational agricultural corporations.
Industrial/ Intensive
Pros: increased abundance of produce, lower prices for consumers, often increased shelf-life of food
Cons: soil degradation, increased water consumption & polluted water runoff, use of synthetic chemicals, biodiversity loss when monoculture is utilized
Mechanized:
The use of modern machinery to help with planting and harvesting.
Most farms are so large that mechanized equipment is used to increase efficiency.
According to Bakersfield College, “Mechanized agriculture is a modern approach to farming that involves the use of advanced machinery and equipment to increase efficiency, productivity, and profitability. This method of agriculture relies on the use of various mechanized tools such as tractors, cultivators, harvesters, and other specialized equipment to cultivate, harvest, and process crops.
Mechanized agriculture has revolutionized the way farmers operate by reducing manual labor and increasing output, resulting in higher yields and lower costs. The use of technology and automation has allowed farmers to manage their operations more efficiently and precisely, resulting in higher profits and more sustainable agricultural practices.”
Mechanized
Pros- more efficient yield, reduced manual labor, reduced costs of produce
Cons- higher start-up costs to purchase equipment, fewer job opportunities, air pollution from gas-powered machinery
Organic:
In the US, the USDA organic regulations must be followed for foods to be certified organic.
“Organic” has become the most common labeling system for produce grown without most synthetic chemicals.
These foods are “grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.” (Organic 101… USDA)
“Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.”
Organic
Pros: fewer pesticides, better soil health, many report better taste
Cons: higher prices for consumers, shorter shelf life, flesh can have more blemishes
Small scale:
representing 90% of US farms, these are generally 5 acres or less in size
According to Science Direct, “Small-Scale Agriculture refers to a farming system where small farms dominate, typically less than two hectares in size, and rely heavily on family labor. This approach is believed to offer advantages over large-scale farming in terms of productivity, equity, and poverty reduction in the context of African agriculture.”
The USDA notes that these farms are vital to the US economy and wellbeing as a nation by supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of rural communities.
Small Scale
Pros: maintain rural populations, regenerative techniques are often used, leading to better soil and ecosystem health, offers self-sufficiency to small towns
Cons: challenging to maintain competitive, harder to adapt to climate change, lower income than larger farms
Climate- smart:
Utilizing methods of farming to protect from, and adapt crops to climate change
This term does not necessarily dictate one method or certification process. Rather, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it “includes and builds upon many practices that farmers and ranchers already use, like cover cropping, nutrient management, and conservation tillage.
Advancing these practices with the goal of adapting to the current climate or preventing any potential impacts to it, is what makes them ‘climate-smart.’
The main goals of climate-smart agriculture are to:
Increase or maintain productivity and yield.
Enhance resilience to environmental changes.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our society needs “climate-smart” agriculture to feed a growing population during times of climate change. However, some of these methods may be out of balance with organic farming, which many associate as the gold standard of sustainable and healthy agriculture.
Climate Smart
Pros- adaptable to climate change, it can help with food security, farm is more resilient to changing climate conditions, integrating different crops helps with biodiversity
Cons- lack of knowledge among farmers to implement, produce costs can be higher, site-specific needs make it harder to roll out as there is no one-size-fits all method to help others get started
Regenerative:
Farming that is beneficial to soil and ecosystem health.
According to the NRDC, “the methods of regenerative agriculture are meant to restore soil and ecosystem health, address inequity, and leave our land, waters, and climate in better shape for the future.”
Their full definition highlights that there is no one set way of measuring or being certified as regenerative, as this approach is meant to be beneficial to soil and ecosystem health, with factors that vary from region to region.
The NRDC notes “As a philosophy and approach to land management, regenerative agriculture asks us to think about how all aspects of agriculture are connected through a web—a network of entities who grow, enhance, exchange, distribute, and consume goods and services—instead of a linear supply chain.”
It’s about farming and ranching in a style that nourishes people and the earth, with specific practices varying from farm to farm and from region to region. There’s no strict rule book, but the holistic principles behind the system of regenerative agriculture are meant to restore soil and ecosystem health, address inequity, and leave our land, waters, and climate in better shape for future generations. (NRDC)
Regenerative
Pros: promoted good soil quality, restores ecosystem health, addresses inequality
Cons: no one way to implement, hard to share knowledge, prices can be higher
Biodynamic:
Farm that follows a sustainable, holistic, organic approach, often based on lunar cycles, sometimes called “beyond organic”
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a biodynamic farm is “of or relating to a system of farming that follows a sustainable, holistic approach which uses only organic, usually locally-sourced materials for fertilizing and soil conditioning, views the farm as a closed, diversified ecosystem, and often bases farming activities on lunar cycles.”
According to North Carolina State University, “many people refer to biodynamic farming as ‘beyond organic’ because of the emphasis on bringing plants and animals together; creating the fertility needed through the use of manure and cover crops produced on the farm; encouraging diversity in plants, animals, and insects; and using open-pollinated seeds and heritage breeds of animals.” Farms in the US are certified by Demeter.
Biodynamic
Pros: Soil is healthier, farmers save money by using their own seeds and not purchasing chemicals (e.g. pesticides and fertilizers), crops are more resident to climate change
Cons: More labor intensive, increasing price of produce, some skeptics think it has abstract ideas that aren’t supported (i.e. following lunar cycles), reduced crop yield
Sustainable:
this type of farming has a vague definition (as opposed to robust organic certification methods). It considers the needs ot future generations, ensures a profit, and equity.
Sustainable farming considers the needs of existing and future generations, while also ensuring profitability, environmental health and social and economic equity. It favors techniques that emulate nature–ones which preserve soil fertility, prevent water pollution and protect biodiversity (United Nations Environment Programme).
Similarly, according to the Stray Dog Institute, “ ‘Sustainability’ encompasses a variety of metrics, and sustainable farming can have a positive effect on a range of intersectional issues, from conserving natural resources to improving the health of individuals and communities.”
Organic
Pros: Soil is healthier, reduced reliance on synthetic chemicals, encourages plant biodiversity with crop rotation
Cons: Reduced crop yield, higher crop prices, sustainable farming knowledge is not widely known
There is no one best way to farm. We are currently thriving, from a food supply standpoint (according to the USDA, Americans waste roughly 35% of our food!), as a nation, in part because we utilize many different types of farming. Choose the methods that resonate with you and your wallet and talk to your local farmers at farmers markets or those who supply a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) option in your area to understand your options.