Producer benefits
Organic methods bring certain benefits for farmers, some costs and many unknowns.
What's good: Organic agriculture is typically more profitable -- up to 35% more, according to a meta-analysis of studies across North America, Europe and India -- than conventional farming. Organic also provides more rural employment opportunities because organic management is more labor-intensive than conventional practices. For workers, though, the biggest advantage is that organic decreases their exposure to toxic agrochemicals.
What's not-so-good: We still don't know whether organic farms pay higher wages or offer better working conditions than conventional farms. Organic farm workers are most likely exploited in similar ways as those tilling the fields on conventional farms.
