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1566549 
Journal Article 
Organic agriculture and climate change 
Scialabba, NElH; Mueller-Lindenlauf, M 
2010 
1 
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
ISSN: 1742-1705
EISSN: 1742-1713 
25 
2 
158-169 
WOS:000278038400009 
This article discusses the mitigation and adaptation
potential of organic agricultural systems along three main features: farming system design,
cropland management and grassland and livestock management. An important potential contribution
of organically managed systems to climate change mitigation is identified in the careful
management of nutrients and, hence, the reduction of N(2)O emissions from soils. Another high
mitigation potential of organic agriculture lies in carbon sequestration in soils. In a first
estimate, the emission reduction potential by abstention from mineral fertilizers is calculated
to be about 20% and the compensation potential by carbon sequestration to be about 40-72% of the
world's current annual agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but further research is
needed to consolidate these numbers. On the adaptation side, organic agriculture systems have a
strong potential for building resilient food systems in the face of uncertainties, through farm
diversification and building soil fertility with organic matter. Additionally, organic
agriculture offers alternatives to energy-intensive production inputs such as synthetic
fertilizers which are likely to be further limited for poor rural populations by rising energy
prices. In developing countries, organic agricultural systems achieve equal or even higher
yields, as compared to the current conventional practices, which translate into a potentially
important option for food security and sustainable livelihoods for the rural poor in times of
climate change. Certified organic products cater for higher income options for farmers and,
therefore, can serve as promoters for climate-friendly farming practices worldwide. 
organic agriculture; climate change; mitigation; adaptation; carbon sequestration; diversification; resilience