Andre Leu, Chairman, OFA
P.O Box 800, Mossman, Qld 4873 Ph:07 40987610 Mob:0428 459870 Email: chair@ofa.org.au
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From the desk of:
Andre Leu, Chairman
P.O. Box 800, Mossman, Qld 4873
Ph: +61 7 40987610 Mob: 0428 459870
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Wednesday Dec 02, 2009
Organic Federation of Australia Chairman at Copenhagen
Organic Agriculture has the potential to sequester nearly all the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that is
generated by human activities
Organic Federation of Australia, Chairman, Andre Leu, will be at Copenhagen as part of a delegation that will
include some of best scientists and researchers into organic systems.
‘Organic agriculture has the potential to sequester nearly all the carbon dioxide that is generated by human
activities. It has the ability to sequester 37 gigatonnes of the 38 gigatonnes CO2 produced every year.’ Andre
Stated
‘Most importantly organic agriculture can help reduce poverty by increasing yields for small holders in the
developing world and through extra income by paying farmers for the CO2 that they sequester. ‘
‘The International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) has organised a series of events
at Copenhagen to promote the mitigation and adaption benefits of organic agriculture to the governments
and media of the world.’ stated Andre, who is a Vice President of IFOAM.
CO2 is the main greenhouse gas (GHG) that scientists believe is responsible for climate change.
According to the latest technical report (AR 4 Synthesis Report) of the United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC) ‘Its [CO2] annual emissions have grown between 1970 and 2004 by about
80%, from 21 to 38 gigatonnes (Gt), and represented 77% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions in 2004.’
Long term studies by the Rodale institute show that organic agriculture can sequester 7.4 tonnes CO2 per
Hectare per year. ’During the 1990s, results from the Compost Utilization Trial (CUT) at Rodale Institute ...a
10-year study ...show that the use of composted manure with crop rotations in organic systems can result in
carbon sequestration of up to 2,000 lbs/ac/year.[2,000 kgs/hectare/year] (LaSalle,T. and Hepperly, P. 2008)
Soil carbon is multiplied by 3.7 to get the amount of CO2 that is sequestered from the atmosphere. This
means that the 2,000 kgs of carbon in the soil has sequestered 7,400 kgs (7.4 t) of CO2 from the atmosphere
‘If these organic systems were applied to the 5.0 billion hectares of global agricultural land, it gives the
potential to sequester 37 gigatonnes of CO2 per year – nearly all of the world’s CO2 output.’ Andre said
‘Paying farmers for the carbon that they sequester into the soil can be one of the most effective ways to
alleviate poverty.’ Mr Leu stated
‘The long term Rodale farming comparison trials showed that organic systems sequestered an average of
7.4 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per year into the soil.’
‘The current price per tonne of CO2 on the European Climate Exchange is around $21.50. Good organic
farmers could earn around $160 per hectare per year on top of the money they earn from their crops. This
would be a significant income boost for most farmers, especially for the millions of smallholders in the
developing world who live on less that $400 a year.’
‘Currently only farm forestry is included in the Kyoto carbon trading protocols. This ties up good agricultural
land from food production and prevents farmers from receiving an income from a wide variety of crops.’
Dec 2009
Andre Leu, Chairman, OFA
P.O Box 800, Mossman, Qld 4873 Ph:07 40987610 Mob:0428 459870 Email: chair@ofa.org.au
2
‘By including soil carbon, farmers can earn money from both their crops and the carbon they sequester. Very
importantly the land can be used for food production.’ Andre said
‘No other industry has the potential of Organic Agriculture to significantly reduce Greenhouse Gases,
increase productivity and alleviate poverty for the world’s poorest farmers.’
‘Governments around the world need include organic agriculture in their climate change policies and actively
promote its adoption. Furthermore, after years of neglect there serious funding is needed into organic
Research and Development to improve on the current best practices. This will improve on the amount of CO2
that can be sequestered into the soil and improve on the yields of food and fibre.’ Mr Leu Stated
-ENDS-
The Organic Federation of Australia is the peak body and the largest representative organic organisation in
For Interviews:
Andre Leu, OFA Chair
Mob: 0428 459870
Land: 07 40987610
Email: chair@ofa.org.au
References:
La Salle ,T. and Hepperly, P. (2008), Regenerative Organic Farming: A Solution to Global Warming, The
Rodale Institute 611 Siegfriedale Road Kutztown, PA 19530-9320 USA
Pimentel D et al (2005), Environmental, Energetic and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional
Farming Systems, Bioscience (Vol. 55:7), July 2005
Rodale (2008) Farm Systems Trial, The Rodale Institute 611 Siegfriedale Road Kutztown, PA 19530-9320
USA
Unep-Unctad (2008), Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, Sept 2008. http://www.unep-
unctad.org/cbtf/index.htm
AR 4 Synthesis Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
NEWS 
