In a ground breaking study that promises to reshape the future of farming, a pioneering analysis has unveiled the undeniable potential of agroecological natural farming as a transformative approach to nourish communities and propel farmers towards nature-positive outcomes in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Led by the trailblazing efforts of impact data and analytics provider GIST Impact, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, this first-of-its-kind research has harnessed the power of True Cost Accounting to meticulously assess and compare the multifaceted impacts of diverse farming systems. The study, titled “Natural Farming Through a Wide-Angle Lens: True Cost Accounting Study of Community Managed Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh, India,” takes a deep dive into the economic, social, and health dimensions of natural farming, ultimately revealing a promising roadmap to a more sustainable and prosperous future.

Unveiling the True Potential of Natural Farming

The heart of this pioneering research beats in the fertile lands of the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, where the study investigates the effects of different farming systems. Four distinct paradigms take center stage: tribal farming, rainfed dryland agriculture, chemically-intensive farming in the delta region, and the rising star, community-managed natural farming (APCNF).

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the study shatters the myth that chemically-intensive farming is an inescapable necessity for meeting the food demands of a burgeoning global population. In fact, natural farming systems demonstrated their prowess by achieving equivalent or even greater yields compared to their chemically-laden counterparts. Astonishingly, these natural systems registered an impressive 11% increase in yields, all the while nurturing greater crop diversity.