A study in Nature has sought to measure the greenhouse gas impacts of converting food production in England and Wales to organic methods. The study by Smith et al. identifited that agriculture is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and must feature in efforts to reduce emissions. Irrespective of whether reductions in GHC are likely to beneficial, the study found:
We predict major shortfalls in production of most agricultural products against a conventional baseline. Direct GHG emissions are reduced with organic farming, but when increased overseas land use to compensate for shortfalls in domestic supply are factored in, net emissions are greater.