Organic vs Conventional Farming

This lesson compares organic farming with conventional farming, as required by the AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition specification (8585), section 3.6. You need to understand the differences between these two approaches, including the use of pesticides, fertilisers, animal welfare standards, cost implications, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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What Is Conventional Farming?

Conventional farming (also called intensive or modern farming) uses synthetic chemicals, modern technology and industrial methods to maximise food production.

Feature	Detail
Pesticides	Synthetic pesticides used to kill insects, weeds and diseases that damage crops
Fertilisers	Synthetic (artificial) fertilisers (containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) used to promote plant growth
Herbicides	Chemical weedkillers used to eliminate competing plants
Animal feed	May contain growth promoters; animals may be fed GM crops
Antibiotics	Routine preventative antibiotics may be given to animals, even when not ill
GM crops	Permitted — genetically modified seeds may be used
Yield	Generally higher than organic farming
Cost	Generally lower for the consumer

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What Is Organic Farming?

Organic farming produces food without the use of synthetic chemicals, relying instead on natural methods to maintain soil health, control pests and support animal welfare.

Feature	Detail
Pesticides	No synthetic pesticides — relies on natural pest control (e.g., encouraging predators like ladybirds to eat aphids, companion planting, crop rotation)
Fertilisers	Natural fertilisers only — compost, animal manure, green manure (planting nitrogen-fixing crops like clover)
Herbicides	Not used — weeds controlled by mechanical methods (hoeing), mulching and crop rotation
Animal feed	Must be organic; no GM ingredients
Antibiotics	No routine antibiotics — only used when an animal is genuinely ill; longer withdrawal period before meat/milk can be sold
GM crops	Not permitted
Animal welfare	Higher standards — more space, outdoor access, natural behaviours encouraged
Certification	Must be certified by an approved body, such as the Soil Association

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Detailed Comparison

Factor	Conventional	Organic
Pesticides	Synthetic pesticides used	No synthetic pesticides; natural methods
Fertilisers	Synthetic fertilisers	Natural fertilisers (compost, manure)
Antibiotics	Routine preventative use	Only when animal is ill
Animal welfare	Variable; can be lower	Higher standards required
GM ingredients	Permitted	Not permitted
Yield	Higher per hectare	Lower (typically 20–25% less)
Cost to consumer	Lower	Higher (typically 20–50% more)
Environmental impact	Higher chemical run-off; soil degradation; reduced biodiversity	Lower chemical impact; better for soil, water and biodiversity
Soil health	Can degrade over time without careful management	Improved through natural methods; better long-term soil structure
Biodiversity	Reduced by pesticides and monoculture	Supported; organic farms have more wildlife
Certification	Not required	Must be certified (e.g., Soil Association)
Food miles	Variable	Variable (organic food may be imported)

flowchart TD
    A["Farming Methods"] --> B["CONVENTIONAL"]
    A --> C["ORGANIC"]

    B --> D["Synthetic pesticides<br/>& fertilisers"]
    B --> E["Routine antibiotics"]
    B --> F["GM crops permitted"]
    B --> G["Higher yields"]
    B --> H["Lower cost"]

    C --> I["Natural pest control<br/>& fertilisers"]
    C --> J["No routine antibiotics"]
    C --> K["No GM ingredients"]
    C --> L["Lower yields"]
    C --> M["Higher cost"]

    style B fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
    style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Organic Farming

Advantages

Advantage	Explanation
No synthetic pesticides	Reduces chemical residues on food; better for the environment; protects pollinators (bees, butterflies)
Better for soil	Natural fertilisers improve soil structure and fertility in the long term; crop rotation prevents soil exhaustion
Higher animal welfare	Animals have more space, outdoor access and can exhibit natural behaviours; no routine antibiotics
Supports biodiversity	Organic farms have up to 50% more wildlife species; hedgerows and habitats are maintained
No GM ingredients	Some consumers prefer to avoid GM foods
Reduced antibiotic resistance	Not using routine antibiotics in farming helps combat the global problem of antibiotic resistance
Better taste	Many consumers and chefs report that organic produce has better flavour (though this is subjective)

Disadvantages

Disadvantage	Explanation
Higher cost	Organic food typically costs 20–50% more than conventional; labour-intensive methods increase production costs
Lower yields	Organic farms produce 20–25% less per hectare; more land is needed to produce the same amount of food
Shorter shelf life	Without preservatives, some organic products spoil more quickly
Limited availability	Not all products are available in organic form; may require visiting specialist shops
Not proven more nutritious	Scientific evidence does not consistently show that organic food is more nutritious than conventional food
Still uses some pesticides	Organic farming permits certain natural pesticides (e.g., copper-based fungicides) which can also have environmental impacts
Land use	Lower yields mean more land is needed; this could lead to deforestation if organic farming replaced conventional at scale

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Organic Certification: The Soil Association

The Soil Association is the UK's leading organic certification body. To carry the Soil Association symbol:

Requirement	Detail
Farm inspection	Annual inspections by Soil Association assessors
Conversion period	Farms must operate organically for at least 2 years before products can be sold as organic
Record keeping	Detailed records of all inputs (fertilisers, pest control, animal treatments)
Animal welfare	Must meet specific standards above basic organic requirements
Processing	Organic processing facilities must also be certified
Labelling	Only certified products can carry the Soil Association logo

Other organic certification bodies in the UK include the Organic Farmers and Growers Association and the Organic Food Federation.

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The Cost Question

The higher cost of organic food is a significant barrier for many consumers:

Factor	Why Organic Costs More
Labour	Organic farming is more labour-intensive (manual weeding, natural pest control)
Lower yields	Less food produced per hectare means higher cost per unit
Certification	Farmers must pay for organic certification and annual inspections
Feed costs	Organic animal feed is more expensive than conventional
Longer production times	Animals may take longer to reach market weight without growth promoters
Smaller scale	Many organic farms are smaller, lacking economies of scale

Is Organic Worth the Extra Cost?

This is a common exam question that requires a balanced answer: