The Benefits of Organic Farming

10 Questions and Answers to Help You Understand

Organic farming is a method of agricultural production and processing that combines respect for the environment, innovation, and responsibility. By blending the best farming practices with more natural processing methods, it aims to reconnect humans with nature, while meeting the fundamental needs of a growing population.

Today, this “whole-system approach” is more essential than ever. In the face of climate urgency, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and soil degradation, it is crucial that we transform our agricultural systems.

Why is organic farming a real solution to these challenges? We explain everything in detail through a series of questions/answers!

1. What are the benefits of organic farming for soils?

Organic farming plays a crucial role in the protection and regeneration of soils, which are the foundation for 95% of our food production ¹.

By nourishing the soil to nourish the plants, it promotes sustainable fertility through the use of organic fertilizers (manure, compost), the elimination of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, and the implementation of diverse crop rotations.

These practices strengthen the biological life of the soil (earthworms, fungi, insects) and improve its structure, its organic matter content, as well as its ability to retain water and resist erosion. According to the French Organic Agency (Agence Bio), “Richer in organic matter, the agricultural soils of organic farming plots host a greater number of animals, sometimes microscopic. ²

Result: living soils that are more resilient to drought and better able to filter pollutants, benefiting both the environment and food security.

2. Does organic farming respect water quality?

Several studies, cited in the ITAB (Technical Institute of Organic Agriculture) report ³ on the environmental benefits of organic farming, show that areas cultivated organically have significantly reduced nitrate ⁴ leaching, which decreases pollution of groundwater and rivers.

Thanks to the use of organic fertilizers, crop rotations, and the strong presence of grasslands, nitrogen is released gradually, thus limiting its passage into the water. The report also emphasizes that “acting at the source to reduce agricultural pollution is far less costly than treating water.” This is why the development of organic farming in water catchment areas is now recognized as one of the most effective ways to protect drinking water.

3. Is organic farming beneficial for biodiversity?

Yes, organic farming is genuinely beneficial for biodiversity. By eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides and promoting ecosystem-friendly practices, it creates habitats favorable to a wide variety of species.

Organic farms host on average 50% more life (plants, insects, birds) and up to 30% more pollinators ⁵. The plant diversity is richer, allowing the return of threatened species, especially pollinators, on which 76% of global commercial crops depend ⁶.

Organic farming, by restoring ecological balances, also protects the services provided by this biodiversity: pollination, natural pest regulation, and soil fertility.

In short, organic farming does not just aim to “do less harm”: it actively contributes to restoring and maintaining biodiversity, both terrestrial and aquatic.

4. Is animal welfare better respected?

Organic standards impose strict farming conditions: access to the outdoors, natural and organic feed, respect for natural behaviors, and a ban on the preventive use of antibiotics.

Animals thus live in environments better suited to their needs, with more space and fresh air, which reduces the risk of disease and makes medical treatments less necessary ⁷. By limiting the use of antibiotics, organic farming also helps preserve their effectiveness for the future.

5. Are organic foods beneficial for health?

The careful attention that organic farmers give to their animals results in the quality of the food they produce.

As early as 2003, the AFSSA ⁸ already highlighted higher levels of certain nutrients in organic products, findings confirmed by meta-analyses from Newcastle University (2014 and 2016).

Many other studies confirm the nutritional benefits of products from organic farming: more polyphenols in fruits and vegetables, higher omega-3 content in milk, and better fat quality in meat. An additional major advantage is a significantly lower level of pesticide residues.

These benefits are directly linked to organic practices, such as natural animal feed and respect for their growth rhythms, which positively impact food quality.

6. Does organic farming help fight climate change?

Organic farming is a genuine lever in the fight against climate change.

By banning synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which are very energy-intensive to produce, and promoting practices that store carbon in the soil, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening ecosystem resilience.

According to the report by the General Commission for Sustainable Development (2013), food production accounts for 57% of the greenhouse gas emissions from our plates. Organic farming could reduce this by 40 to 50% by 2050 in Europe ⁹.

Fewer inputs, more permanent vegetation: organic farming combines concrete solutions for low-carbon food production.

7. Does organic farming create jobs?

Organic farming plays a key role in the creation of sustainable jobs, especially in rural areas. According to the report The World of Organic Agriculture 2024, published by FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) and IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), there are 4.5 million organic producers worldwide. Organic farming is an employment driver throughout the entire value chain, far beyond just the farms themselves. It generates more jobs per hectare. However, this trend varies significantly depending on the sectors and the characteristics of the farms. For example, large-scale organic crop production requires more labor than its conventional farming counterpart.¹⁰

Moreover, it is estimated that the transition to a green economy will generate more than 24 million full-time jobs in agriculture by 2050, including agroecological practices and organic farming. ¹⁰

It is also important to note that, in terms of producer income, organic farming offers a significant advantage. In the sectors of viticulture, vegetable farming, and dairy production, it enables farmers to fully benefit from short supply chains, resulting in higher revenue. This finding is confirmed by a study from INSEE on the economic performance of organic agriculture.¹²

8. How can you recognize an organic farming product?

To recognize an organic product, you need to check for the presence of a certified label, such as the European logo (green leaf) or national labels: the “AB” label for France, the “USDA” label for the United States, or the “NPOP” label for India.. These labels guarantee that the product complies with the strict standards of organic farming, from production to distribution. Certification is carried out by independent bodies like Ecocert, a pioneer in the sector.

Every player in the chain (farmer, processor, distributor) must be inspected and certified in order to display the organic label on their products.

Ecocert, with more than 800 auditors in the field, certifies over 65,000 clients.

For over 30 years, Ecocert has helped uphold the fundamentals of organic farming: banning GMOs and synthetic chemical pesticides, preserving biodiversity, respecting animal welfare, and sustainably managing resources.

Choosing a certified organic product labeled by a recognized organization is therefore a choice of trust for your health, the environment, and sustainable agriculture.

9. How is organic farming a sustainable solution?

Organic farming does not address a single issue in isolation but acts simultaneously on soil, water, biodiversity, climate change, animal welfare, and food systems.

This holistic production system—that is, one that considers the whole—relies on solid ecological principles and sustainable management of natural resources. As IFOAM (General Assembly 2008) reminds us, “organic farming is based on ecological processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than on the use of inputs with harmful effects. It preserves the health of soils, ecosystems, and people.”

In this sense, organic farming offers a coherent and sustainable transformation of our food system, directly aligned with the planet’s limits.

10. What should we remember about Organic Farming?

The benefits of organic farming are numerous and provide a coherent response to major environmental, social, and health challenges.

By preserving soil and water quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting biodiversity, it offers a concrete solution to ecosystem decline, pollution, and global warming. It also guarantees food free from synthetic pesticides, respects animal welfare, and supports the local economy by creating many jobs. Supporting organic farming means encouraging a sustainable agricultural model that offers concrete solutions for the world, humans, animals, and the planet.

For any additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

¹ Source : Report “What you can say when marketing organic” de la Soil Association, 2020

² Source : https://www.agencebio.org/decouvrir-le-bio/les-apports-de-lagriculture-biologique/

³ Source : Report “Quantifier et chiffrer économiquement les externalités de l’agriculture biologique ?” (Quantifying and Economically Valuing the Externalities of Organic Farming), ITAB (2016)

⁴ Definition : Nitrates (NO3−) are one of the forms of nitrogen. Useful for plant growth, they can be of natural or synthetic origin (mineral nitrogen fertilizers). Source : INSEE

⁵ Source : Report “Quantifier et chiffrer économiquement les externalités de l’agriculture biologique ?” (Quantifying and Economically Valuing the Externalities of Organic Farming), ITAB (2016)

⁶ Source : Report “What you can say when marketing organic” de la Soil Association, 2020

⁷ Source : Report “What you can say when marketing organic” de la Soil Association, 2020

⁸ Source : Report "Évaluation de la qualité nutritionnelle et sanitaire des aliments issus de l’agriculture biologique" (Evaluation of the Nutritional and Health Quality of Foods from Organic Farming), AFSSA and meta-analyses by Carlo Leifert from Newcastle University, published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2014 and 2016.

⁹ Source : Report “What you can say when marketing organic” de la Soil Association, 2020

¹⁰ Source : Report “Labour Use on Organic Farms: a Review of Research since 2000”, Organic Farming

¹¹ Source : Report “World Employment and Social Outlook 2018: Greening with Jobs”, International Labour Organization (ILO)

¹² Source : INSEE study "la performance économique de l’agriculture biologique" ("The Economic Performance of Organic Agriculture"), (2017).