Erik Fyrwald: “organic harms the climate”

Depending on the product, yields in organic farming can be up to 50% lower. And, while organic consumption grows in Europe, its growing production results in lower productivity, affecting exports and food supply to other regions, such as Africa. The indirect consequence is that Africans are going hungry because Europeans eat more and more organic products. The almost paradoxical situation is explained by the CEO of Syngenta, Erik Fyrwald, in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (link at the end). Balance would come, in his opinion, through a global reorientation of agriculture.

The issue becomes urgent and crucial, in Fyrwald's opinion, due to the invasion of Ukraine. Next European autumn, Ukraine's harvest may be trapped in the country because Ukrainian ports are being attacked and occupied by the Russians. This will prevent the flow of the country's grain production, which feeds 400 million people around the world. A serious problem to be resolved now, or the food shortage will spread to other regions. The economic sanctions on Russia and the blockade of Ukraine are worrying.

Fyrwald says that Europe, in turn, is unable to increase production due to restrictive laws for the use of advanced technologies. Organic agriculture produces 50% less at the moment, as a result of the ban on the use of many pesticides, when it is now possible to make existing varieties more resistant against heat, fungi or pests. In the medium and long term, the problem will only be solved with the adoption of new technologies.

It is no longer about classic genetic technology, but about genome editing, making varieties more resistant using already known methods, similar to the natural evolutionary process. The CEO of Syngenta says that the necessary support for farmers around the world involves adding a genome capable of increasing plant resistance to climate extremes and improving the producer's performance. It's no longer about thinking long term, explains Fyrwald, because the problem is urgent and acute. Almost like the effort made to contain Covid-19, when rapid research enabled effective vaccines to be developed and approved quickly.

Fyrwald also says that the celebrated organic production actually also harms the climate and promotes land use. Organic farming requires larger areas and fields often need to be plowed, which increases CO2 emissions. Pesticides are also used on a large scale in organic agriculture. However, they are less efficient. And the interesting thing is that contrary to popular belief, organic products are also profitable for industries, as the prices charged are much higher.

The original article can be read here (in German).

Repercussions can be seen here (English) and here (Italian).

The Wall Street Journal published an article containing similar ideas. It was written by Bjorn Lomborg. Can be read here.