1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Land Use Based Mitigation for Resilient Climate Pathways (LANDMARC)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Research institut for organic agriculture (FiBL) - Switzerland

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART (Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART) - Switzerland

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

ETH-Zürich (ETH-Zürich) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Organic agriculture is a system of crop cultivation that uses biological methods of pest control and organic fertilizer as substitutes for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It targets sustainability, enhancement of soil fertility, and biological diversity by aiming to close nutrient cycles while generally prohibiting synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Organic agriculture is a globally applied technology practiced on agricultural land. It is carried out in 188 countries, with over 96 million hectares of agricultural land managed organically by at least 4.5 million farmers.

The main elements of this technology include the use of biological methods of pest control and organic fertilizer application, which replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It generally prohibits synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, and growth hormones. The purpose of organic agriculture is to achieve sustainability in farming, enhancing soil fertility, increasing biological diversity and reducing the reliance on external inputs to agriculture, relying on nutrient recycling by applying manure and on biological nitrogen fixation from legumes. It also aims to provide a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional farming practices. To establish and maintain organic agriculture, major activities include the application of organic fertilizers, crop rotation, and the use of pest-resistant plant varieties. Regular soil testing and monitoring of pest populations are also necessary. Certification of a farm as being officially organic is needed if the products are to be sold at a price premium.

Organic agriculture can improve soil health, reduce pollution of the surrounding environment, and contribute to biodiversity in the fields. Moreover, it can offer healthier food options and potentially higher income for farmers due to the premium prices of organic products. Land users appreciate organic agriculture for its environmental benefits and potential for higher income. However, some dislike the increased labour and time required, the 10-30% of reduction in yields, compared to conventional agriculture, as well as the need for a transition period before farms can be certified as organic and products sold at a premium price.

The DOK experiment presented here is representative of organic practices in the context of temperate regions (specifically, Switzerland and surrounding countries). It is jointly managed by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), and by the Swiss Confederation's centre of excellence for agricultural research (Agroscope). The name "DOK Experiment" is derived from its main purpose, to compare three cultivation systems: Biodynamic (D), organic (O) and conventional (K) agriculture. These differ in terms of how they are fertilized (D: liquid manure, manure compost, biodynamic preparations; O: liquid manure, rotted manure; K: two variants, one with liquid manure, fresh or rotted manure, mineral fertilizer (CONFYM variant) and one with only mineral fertilizer (CONMIN variant)), as well as by plant protection (D and O: organic; K: chemical-synthetic). In addition to two fertilization levels of the three cultivation systems (half fertilization and standard practice fertilization), two controls are carried out, an unfertilized (N) and a purely mineral-fertilized variant (M). The experiment is spatially replicated four times. The results presented here refer to the conventional (K) and the organic (O) treatments at the standard practice fertilization level.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

1978

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

This is a research site, investigating the benefits of organic agriculture.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• integrated crop-livestock management
• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Comment to A5: It is aimed to use pest-resistant crop varieties, because chemical pesticides are not allowed in organic agriculture.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

CHF

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

0.91

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Courses on the principles of organic farming	Before transition
2.	Transitioning period (already practicing but not yet certified)	2 years
3.	Certification	Start of year 3

Comments:

Detailed information on the transition process and requirements can be found here:
https://www.fibl.org/de/shop/1001-umstellung

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Courses are needed when transitioning to organic agriculture. They usually take around a week and the cost of courses depends locally.
Further, there are costs for certification, which are usually 400 CHF.
The main costs of transitioning is lost yields in the years during transition, when there is no price premium, yet. Subsidies depend on the Swiss Canton.
Some detailed information on the cost associated with transition can be found here:
https://www.bioaktuell.ch/grundlagen/umstellung/allgemein/kosten-und-beitraege

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Application of manure	At least yearly
2.	Application of slurry	Usually twice a year
3.	Soil preparation by harrow or cultivator	Yearly
4.	Weed supression by tine weeder	At least yearly
5.	Biological pesticide application (e.g., Novodor)	When needed, mostly in potato
6.	Planting of cover crop	After wheat
7.	Mulching cover crop	Before planting soy/maize

Comments:

The measures here reflect the activities that are in addition to conventional management needs. Their exact sequence depends on selected crop rotation. In the DOK experiment is was silage maize, soybean, winter wheat, potato, winter wheat, and two years of grass-clover.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour requirements compared to conventional agriculture	%	113.0

Comments:

Because this is a research trial, the detailed costs are neither available nor would they be representative of typical organic farms. Therefore, it is best to rely on the estimated costs from an international study. Based on this study there are 13% higher labour costs in organic farming, but the higher labor cost in organic systems is offset by lower costs of purchased inputs. The total production cost is not different to conventional farming. When the actual organic premiums are considered, gross returns, benefit/cost ratios, and net present values are significantly higher for organic crops compared to conventional crops (21%, 24%, and 35%, respectively).
The study is available here:

https://www.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1423674112

A good way to estimate the costs of organic vs conventional production is the KTBL Performance Cost calulator. It can be specified to farm and machinery size, soil type and has an option for organic agriculture to see the differences. (only in German language):

https://daten.ktbl.de/dslkrpflanze/postHv.html

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Reduced yield without price premium during transition period.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

• irrigation not common

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

No

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Soil

Specify assessment of on-site impacts (measurements):

All presented results are from published studies about the DOK experiment.

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

There are ongoing debates on whether organic agriculture really leads to lower emissions than conventional agriculture, and the conclusion largely depends on the unit of reference (amount of food vs. per ha).

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	moderately

Comments:

Preliminary results from rain-emission shelters indicates similar resilience of the organic agriculture treatment as the conventional ones to drought.
However, organic agriculture in general is expected to better cope with climate change than conventional agriculture (https://www.fibl.org/fileadmin/documents/shop/1500-climate-change.pdf)

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

The main establishment costs is that in the first years of establishment, farmers have to apply all organic principles and thus have lower yields. However, certification as organic produce, which receive price premiums, is only possible 1-3 years after establishment, depending on the farm type. Thus, there is a period in which the lower yields are not yet compensated by a price premium. Once the system is certified and a price premium received, gross returns, benefit/cost ratios, and net present values are significantly higher for organic crops compared to conventional crops (https://www.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1423674112)

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

About 16% of all farms in Switzerland are currently organic. (BAFU; https://www.bfs.admin.ch/news/de/2024-0392)

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 51-90%

Comments:

Switzerland has specific subsidies for those that practice organic farming but also many subsidies that all farmers receive. It is thus not 100% clear how many farmers were mainly incentivized by the additional subsidies. However, most become organic farmers out of conviction that it is the better and more sustainable farming system.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Higher income due to price premiums
Less dependance on external inputs

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Better nutrient cycling and soil fertility.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lower yields compared to conventional agriculture.	Price premium. Eating less meat, which consumes most of the agricultural produce.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Knapp, S., Gunst, L., Mäder, P., Ghiasi, S., Mayer, J., 2023. Organic cropping systems maintain yields but have lower yield levels and yield stability than conventional systems – Results from the DOK trial in Switzerland. Field Crops Research 302, 109072.

Available from where? Costs?

For free: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109072

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Krause, H.-M., Stehle, B., Mayer, J., Mayer, M., Steffens, M., Mäder, P., Fliessbach, A., 2022. Biological soil quality and soil organic carbon change in biodynamic, organic, and conventional farming systems after 42 years. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 42, 117.

Available from where? Costs?

For free: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00843-y

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Mayer, M., Krause, H.-M., Fliessbach, A., Mäder, P., Steffens, M., 2022. Fertilizer quality and labile soil organic matter fractions are vital for organic carbon sequestration in temperate arable soils within a long-term trial in Switzerland. Geoderma 426, 116080.

Available from where? Costs?

For free: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116080

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Crowder, D.W., Reganold, J.P., 2015. Financial competitiveness of organic agriculture on a global scale. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, 7611–7616.

Available from where? Costs?

For free: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1423674112

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

FIBL Webpage DOK trials

URL:

https://www.fibl.org/en/themes/projectdatabase/projectitem/project/404

7.4 General comments

Costs are the most difficult to estimate from agricultural experiments (not real field conditions)