Does certified organic agriculture increase agroecosystem health? Evidence from four farming systems in Uganda

摘要: Over the past decades, number of certified organic farms have increased significantly in Uganda. One assumption is that agriculture contributes to economic, social and ecological health agroecosystems. In literature, however, there thin empirical evidence support such claims. We therefore developed indicators contrasted data from four Ugandan farming systems with principles objectives agriculture. identified patterns (ecology-driven, economically struggling, socially-driven, hanging in) demonstrating impact farm management on agroecosystem trade-offs between domains. Ecological strengthened only if conversion goes beyond ‘organic by default’. Market-oriented specialization can create lock-in situations production strategies cannot be changed easily. Food shortages occur when additional income does not compensate for reduced area effort devoted food crops. conclude positive effects certification taken granted. Interventions promoting should acknowledge risks smallholder farmers take converting cash crop-oriented farming. A challenging question will how aspects wellbeing translated into standards thus product attributes.