REPORT + WEBINAR What is the contribution of organic agriculture to sustainable development?

RIOA (2021) What is the contribution of organic agriculture to sustainable development? A synthesis of twelve years (2007-2019) of the “long-term farming systems comparisonsin the tropics (SysCom)”. 

Gurbir S. Bhullar, David Bautze, Noah Adamtey, Laura Armengot, Harun Cicek, Eva Goldmann, Amritbir Riar, Johanna Rüegg, Monika Schneider, Beate Huber (2021). Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Frick, Switzerland, 40 pages



The SysCom team published a first report which provided a comprehensive synthesis of the scientific findings of SysCom. The report is presented in a form that is easy to understand for an ‘educated non-expert’ audience. The findings address the differences between alternative (organic and agroforestry) and conventional production systems in terms of productivity, profitability, soil fertility and quality, and other indicators. The report also includes an overview about the results and recommendations for policy related stakeholders. 10.80 MB Download the report

Related Webinar:

27 January 2021. Organic Agriculture - A realistic pathway? organized by FiBL and INTPA (former DEVCO)

The results of 12 years of comparative farming systems research in Kenya, Bolivia, and India provide scientific evidence on economic and ecological sustainability of organic and conventional systems. They illustrate how organic systems and other agroecological approaches can contribute to the SDGs by 2030. 



The conference addresses whether organic agriculture is a realistic pathway for smallholders in the Global South and if it can support the transformation of food systems. Furthermore, it addresses some key issues of the SDG's such as responsible consumption and production as well as eliminating poverty and hunger. 

The results of the report will be reflected in the view of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) with regards to its work on agroecology.



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• Christophe Larose, Head of Sector, INTPA F3 Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries
• Knut Schmidtke - Director of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, FiBL
• Christina Blank - Programme Manager of the Global Programme Food Security, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
• Beate Huber - President, FiBL Europe
• Bernard Lehmann - Vice-Chairperson of the HLPE Steering Committee
• Monika Schneider - Country Leader SYSCOM Bolivia
• Noah Adamtey - Country Leader SYSCOM Kenya
• Gurbir Bhullar - Country Leader SYSCOM India, Lead author of the SYSCOM synthesis report

Program info: Farming Systems Comparison in the Tropics

Program title: Farming Systems Comparisons in the Tropics (SysCom)

• Start: 2007 | Phase 4 : 2019 - 2022
• Project sites: Bolivia, India, Kenya
• Implemented by: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland
• Main partners: Ecotop S.R.L, Institute of Ecology (University San Andres), PIAF-El Ceibo Foundation, bioRe India Association, Institute of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
• Funded by: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Liechtenstein Development Service (LED), Coop Sustainability Fund, Biovision Foundation