Study Reveals Organic Farming May Increase Pesticide Use on Neighboring Fields

Researchers suggest clustering organic farms to mitigate environmental impact.

A recent study indicates that the expansion of organic farmland in California could lead to an increase in pesticide use on neighboring conventional farms.
The study, published in Science, suggests that pests from organic farms may spill over to conventional farms, prompting an increase in pesticide use.
Researchers propose that clustering organic farms together and separating them from conventional farms could mitigate the negative impacts on pesticide use.
The findings challenge the notion that organic farming alone can reduce pesticide use and highlight the need for strategic planning in agricultural land use.
Policymakers and farmers are encouraged to consider the spatial arrangement of organic and conventional farms to optimize environmental benefits.