Himanshu Tiwari

A comparative analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the life cycle of organic and conventional farming reveals a complex picture that depends on numerous factors, including crop type, local conditions, production technologies, and assessment methodology. Organic farming generally produces lower emissions per hectare, primarily due to the avoidance of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, the production of which requires significant amounts of energy and resources. Instead, organic systems rely on renewable nutrient sources such as manure and compost, which contribute to a lower carbon footprint and improved soil quality. However, organic yields are often lower compared to conventional systems, which can result in higher emissions when GHGs are assessed per unit of product (e.g., per kilogram of food).

In addition, organic systems frequently require more mechanical soil management, which can increase fuel use and emissions if not implemented with energy-efficient techniques. Food transport and processing are often similar in both systems, but organic products sometimes travel longer distances to reach markets, which can further impact total emissions. Nevertheless, organic agriculture offers several advantages that standard life cycle assessment (LCA) tools fail to adequately capture—such as carbon sequestration in soils, biodiversity conservation, and reduced environmental harm to surrounding ecosystems.

To improve LCA tools and provide a more accurate representation of the sustainability of organic farming, it is essential to integrate additional agroecological and social indicators. These include measuring long-term effects on soil health, climate resilience, natural resource preservation, and community well-being. Furthermore, the use of locally specific data and extended methodologies—such as social LCA and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA)—can contribute to a more accurate and fair evaluation of organic agriculture’s role in sustainable development.

While talking about conventional and organic farming and effects on GHG emissions,it represent two distinct approaches to growing crops: Conventional Farming, relies on synthetic fertilisers,pesticides and herbicides to maximise production and efficiency while organic farming avoidssynthetic inputs and focuses on natural methods to promote soil health,biodiversity, and reduce environmental impact.following reveals main differences on the emissions of GHG:

1.Organic Farming: CO2 emissions are lowered by approximately 32-33% as compare to conventional farming but emits higher N2O and CH4.Organic farming has lower human toxicity potential and ionising radiation.It has lower Freshwater ecotoxicity potential and ionising radiation

2.Conventional Farming: It emits higher CO2 due to use of synthetic fertilisers and fossil fuel.It has higher environmental impacts in most categories except for marine eutrophication potential and terrestrial acidification potential