In a press issued on Dec. 28, the Organic Trade Association announced that in 2015 numerous studies revealed scientific breakthroughs on the environmental and human health benefits of organic food and farming; from improving soil health and supporting water quality, to reducing our exposure to pesticides and mitigating climate change.

“The amount and scope of cutting edge research last year showing that the benefits of organic are supported by science was very impressive,” said Dr. Jessica Shade, director of science programs for The Organic Center. “A large body of the research shows that pesticides that are banned from use in organic can have serious negative impacts on the environment and humans. The good news is that by choosing organic you can contribute to a healthier world.”

Perhaps the most important topic was the impact of pesticides on pollinator health. Several studies showed the class of pesticides called neonicotinoids has various negative impacts on bees.

Another long-term study showed organic farming is beneficial for soil organisms, with larger soil animals increasing to over 250 times that found in conventional soils, and microorganisms up 70 percent.

Researchers examining nitrogen runoff found organic cropping systems have less nitrogen pollution than conventional systems. Another study on water quality found organic methods can be used to reduce water pollution in U.S waterways.

Research has long demonstrated clear dangers of pesticide exposure from living and working in agricultural areas. Researchers at Harvard University published findings showing dietary exposure to pesticides can lower sperm quantity and quality in men.

Glyphosate, an active ingredient in some pesticides, is prohibited for use in organic. One new study suggested that low-level exposure over a long period could cause kidney and liver damage in rats.

Several recent studies tackled the myth that organic farms have lower yields than conventional. One study showed that farms under organic soil management systems can produce yields equivalent to conventional systems and found that organic farming reduced weeds by up to 47 percent and increased total soil nitrogen by up to seven percent.

How to reduce personal exposures to pesticides was also explored in the past year. One large-scale study involving 4,000 participants from across the United States confirmed that choosing organic does reduce exposure to pesticides.

Another study showed an association between early exposure to organophosphate pesticides and respiratory symptoms consistent with childhood asthma. And yet another study linked pesticide exposure and decreased mental ability in children, including neurocognitive abilities.

New research also showed organic farming promotes a wide diversity of organisms on the farm.  One study showed organically farmed lands had more beneficial predatory insects and spiders than conventional farms.

Finally, an important study supports the idea that conversion to organic agriculture may be a climate-change solution. The study showed organic farming methods could mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.