Next March the European Commission will present the Biodiversity Plan, a document within the Green New Deal, the European green pact that aims to transform Europe into the first continent to achieve net-zero emissions in terms of CO2 by 2050. In recent days, journalists from Ansa, who were able to view a draft of the plan, revealed some of its contents. Brussels is said to have set a target of 30 per cent of cultivated land under organic farming as a share of total cultivated area, the set-aside of 10 per cent of agricultural land, and a 50 per cent cut in the use of pesticides. The plan, which sets as its goal the creation of new protected areas to reach a quota of 30 per cent of land surface and 30 per cent of marine surface, also envisages a crackdown on invasive alien species and a reserve of 10 billion euros to fund projects for biodiversity. As Ansa explained, these are figures that could still change, above all those on organic farming and pesticides, which appear in brackets in the document; in the meantime, we discussed these targets with the president of Federbio, Maria Grazia Mammuccini.

The draft Biodiversity Plan mentions 30 per cent of agricultural land converted to organic farming. In what way can organic farming contribute to environmental protection and emissions reduction?
"The organic approach is more resilient than the conventional one, since, in addition to producing a greater quantity of biomass and plant and animal biodiversity per unit of area, it improves the organic matter in the soil, thereby also contributing to carbon sequestration and hence to the mitigation of climate change. According to data published by the Rodale Institute in 2011, organic farming systems use 45 per cent less energy than conventional ones and produce 40 per cent fewer greenhouse gases than farming based on conventional methods. Furthermore, the organic method prohibits the use of synthetic chemical substances, one of the main factors affecting biological diversity, together with habitat loss and climate change. These can in fact have short-term toxic effects on organisms directly exposed, or long-term effects that cause changes in the food chain."

The 50 per cent cut in pesticides that appears in the draft is a major target: is it achievable, or is it likely to be scaled back?
"We really hope it won't be scaled back. I believe it can be an achievable target, but it requires a serious and concrete commitment from everyone. Conversion to organic farming is one of the key points for reaching this target, but beyond that, innovations developed in organic farming using techniques and approaches of natural origin — such as bioprotection and biocontrol, as alternatives to synthetic chemical products — should also be introduced into conventional agriculture. These techniques, based on substances of natural and mineral origin, enable the management of harmful pests and pathogens through the study of their biology and behaviour. They therefore represent an effective, reliable and modern means of protecting agricultural crops. Finally, they contribute to mitigating climate change, reducing biodiversity loss and combating environmental pollution thanks to a lower input of synthetic chemical substances."

Is it possible to imagine a future Europe where land under organic farming exceeds land under conventional farming? And in that case, would organic farming be able to meet food requirement figures?
"We are witnessing a genuine transformation in the way food is produced and consumed, driven by citizens' conscious choices towards products that offer greater guarantees for health, for respect for the environment, and that at the same time respond to the principles of social equity. This reassures us that in future it will be possible for organic farming to become the reference paradigm. As regards the capacity to meet food requirements, there are studies confirming that, after an initial drop in yields observed during the first years of transition, organic crops go on to equal and even surpass conventional farming systems. Indeed, whereas in conventional agriculture the objective is to feed the plant with an eye to immediately increasing yields, in organic farming the objective is to feed the soil in order to maintain its fertility and achieve a stability in production capable of meeting present needs without compromising the capacity to meet the needs of the future. However, a new food model is also needed, based on combating waste and on reducing meat consumption."