Extinction

On the face of it, we are less likely to poison other species if we cut down the use of toxic chemicals in modern farming. Conceivably, it would help preserving the global ecological system and diversity of life.

(See? I could speak the language of aliens when there is a need.)

But, hold on. What is the most important cause of species extinction in the past 200,000 years, after the appearance of Homo sapiens on earth?

No, not because of the extensive use of lethal chemicals – many species disappeared long before we started using urine and faeces as fertilizer. And it’s not because human beings love to catch big animals for food and for fun. There are good archaeological data showing that many legendary animals did not die of direct hunting – their remnant skeletons have no trace of knife, arrow, or bite marks.

In that case, why should so many species of plants and animals, big or small, disappeared after we established ourselves?

Simple. The very nature of farming implies that we convert pieces of bio-diversed land into monotonous field with only one dominant species. Other plants and animals are whipped off because they have no place to live, to find their favorite food, or to mate. (The proof is straight forward: More species disappear once we passed from the hunter-gatherer to the agricultural stage.)

It really doesn’t matter whether you use organic or inorganic farming.