Study Explores How Organic Farming Affects Pesticide Use in Nearby Fields

A study published in Science and conducted by researchers at UC Santa Barbara, University of British Columbia, and University of Colorado Boulder explored the complicated relationship between organic farming and pesticide use on neighboring fields. “We find that organic cropland generally leads to a decrease in pesticide use on nearby organic fields,” said lead author Ashley Larsen, an ecologist at UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. “In contrast, organic agriculture leads to a small, but significant, increase in pesticide use on nearby conventional fields.” The researchers explain that the impact of organic agriculture on pesticide use depends on the density and spacing of organic and conventional fields, and they suggest that the most effective approach to reducing pesticide use would be to cluster fields in organic production together. This has the effect of supporting larger populations of beneficial insects for natural pest control.