Editing Organic farming (section)

=== World's food security ===

In 2007 the United Nations [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] (FAO) said that organic agriculture often leads to higher prices and hence a better income for farmers, so it should be promoted. However, FAO stressed that organic farming could not feed the current human population, much less the larger future population. Both data and models showed that organic farming was far from sufficient. Therefore, chemical fertilizers were needed to avoid hunger.<ref name=fao>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000726/index.html|title=Organic agriculture can contribute to fighting hunger - But chemical fertilizers needed to feed the world|website=Food and Agriculture Organization|date=2007-12-10|access-date=|archive-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502120829/http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000726/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Others have argued that organic farming is particularly well-suited to food-insecure areas, and therefore could be "an important part of increased food security" in places like sub-Saharan Africa<ref name="Halweil">{{cite web|last=Halweil|first=Brian|title=Can Organic Farming Feed Us All?.|url=http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4060|publisher=World Watch Magazine|access-date=2 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209135230/http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4060|archive-date=9 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

FAO stressed that fertilizers and other chemical inputs can increase production, particularly in Africa where fertilizers are currently used 90% less than in Asia.<ref name=fao/> For example, in Malawi the yield has been boosted using seeds and fertilizers.<ref name=fao/>

Also [[NEPAD]], a development organization of African governments, announced that feeding Africans and preventing malnutrition requires fertilizers and enhanced seeds.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100304023531/http://www.africafertilizersummit.org/ Meeting Africa's Food Challenge], The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), 9–13 June 2006, Abuja, Nigeria.</ref>

According to a 2012 study from McGill University, organic best management practices show an average yield only 13% less than conventional.<ref>{{cite web|title=Can organic food feed the world? New study sheds light on debate over organic vs. conventional agriculture|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425140114.htm|website=Science Daily|access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> In the world's poorer nations where most of the world's hungry live, and where conventional agriculture's expensive inputs are not affordable for the majority of farmers, adopting organic management actually increases yields 93% on average, and could be an important part of increased food security.<ref name="Halweil"/><ref>{{cite web|last=De Schutter|first=Olivier|title=Report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food|url=http://3x39fmt0aja34zifjfnu4695x.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/20110308_UN_agroecology_report.pdf|publisher=United Nations|access-date=3 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308095001/http://3x39fmt0aja34zifjfnu4695x.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/20110308_UN_agroecology_report.pdf|archive-date=8 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>