Gains to species diversity in organically farmed fields are not propagated at the farm level

Manuel K. Schneider (), Gisela Lüscher, Philippe Jeanneret, Michaela Arndorfer, Youssef Ammari, Debra Bailey, Katalin Balázs, András Báldi, Jean-Philippe Choisis, Peter Dennis, Sebastian Eiter, Wendy Fjellstad, Mariecia D. Fraser, Thomas Frank, Jürgen K. Friedel, Salah Garchi, Ilse R. Geijzendorffer, Tiziano Gomiero, Guillermo Gonzalez-Bornay, Andy Hector, Gergely Jerkovich, Rob H.G. Jongman, Esezah Kakudidi, Max Kainz, Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki, Gerardo Moreno, Charles Nkwiine, Julius Opio, Marie-Louise Oschatz, Maurizio G. Paoletti, Philippe Pointereau, Fernando J. Pulido, Jean-Pierre Sarthou, Norman Siebrecht, Daniele Sommaggio, Lindsay A. Turnbull, Sebastian Wolfrum and Felix Herzog
Additional contact information
Manuel K. Schneider: Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences
Gisela Lüscher: Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences
Philippe Jeanneret: Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences
Michaela Arndorfer: University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences
Youssef Ammari: Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts
Debra Bailey: Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences
Katalin Balázs: Institute of Environmental & Landscape Management, Szent Istvan University
András Báldi: Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research
Jean-Philippe Choisis: INRA, UMR 1201 Dynafor, Chemin de Borde-Rouge
Peter Dennis: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus
Sebastian Eiter: Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute
Wendy Fjellstad: Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute
Mariecia D. Fraser: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus
Thomas Frank: University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences
Jürgen K. Friedel: University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences
Salah Garchi: Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts
Ilse R. Geijzendorffer: Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalsesteeg 3
Tiziano Gomiero: Padova University
Guillermo Gonzalez-Bornay: Forestry School, University of Extremadura
Andy Hector: Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich
Gergely Jerkovich: Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus
Rob H.G. Jongman: Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalsesteeg 3
Esezah Kakudidi: Makerere University
Max Kainz: Centre of Life and Food Science, Technical University of Munich
Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki: Lendület Ecosystem Services Research Group, MTA Centre for Ecological Research
Gerardo Moreno: Forestry School, University of Extremadura
Charles Nkwiine: Makerere University
Julius Opio: Makerere University
Marie-Louise Oschatz: University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences
Maurizio G. Paoletti: Padova University
Philippe Pointereau: SOLAGRO, Initiatives and Innovations for Energy, Agriculture and Environment
Fernando J. Pulido: Forestry School, University of Extremadura
Jean-Pierre Sarthou: Toulouse University; ENSAT; UMR 1248 AGIR
Norman Siebrecht: Centre of Life and Food Science, Technical University of Munich
Daniele Sommaggio: Padova University
Lindsay A. Turnbull: Institute of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich
Sebastian Wolfrum: Centre of Life and Food Science, Technical University of Munich
Felix Herzog: Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Organic farming is promoted to reduce environmental impacts of agriculture, but surprisingly little is known about its effects at the farm level, the primary unit of decision making. Here we report the effects of organic farming on species diversity at the field, farm and regional levels by sampling plants, earthworms, spiders and bees in 1470 fields of 205 randomly selected organic and nonorganic farms in twelve European and African regions. Species richness is, on average, 10.5% higher in organic than nonorganic production fields, with highest gains in intensive arable fields (around +45%). Gains to species richness are partly caused by higher organism abundance and are common in plants and bees but intermittent in earthworms and spiders. Average gains are marginal +4.6% at the farm and +3.1% at the regional level, even in intensive arable regions. Additional, targeted measures are therefore needed to fulfil the commitment of organic farming to benefit farmland biodiversity.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5151

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