Wheat - Mainstream and Organic

Ron Loucks
RL Learning Systems

Abstract
What's this?
This pilot study is a comparison of mainstream and organic areas in wheat, and some community-wide, environmental implications.

Why?
First the analysis shows the size of the organic wheat sector. This is interesting in itself. Secondly, the analysis gives a perspective on a community-wide benefit of organic agriculture - the prevented release of pollutants, or, as we describe it, the displacement of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

How?
We add up the total amounts of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides applied to wheat as well as the mainstream hectares in wheat. From this we obtain average application rates. Then we assume that there are no synthetic fertilizers and pesticides applied to organic wheat, and we add up the hectares of organic wheat. Finally we conclude that the organic hectares of wheat represent the displacement of (or prevent the release of) the average amount of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and we add up these displaced amounts.

Where?
This exercise is repeated throughout the North American Grasslands eco-region by Canadian province, American state and Mexican state where data is available.

When?
The available data is mostly for years between 1997 and 2001.


Click here for full report "Displacement of Fertilizers and Pesticides in Wheat Culture in North America" (PDF, 810 kb)


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