Together with a reduction in the use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, an increase of other inputs can occur, such as organic material, labour and machinery. This, in turns, influences food security, and the environment. Those changes are often influenced by, and influence, social changes within the community. In all cases, farmers will want to evaluate five issues to determine their likelihood of success in organic agriculture. Labour input Labour costs are an important input in the production process.
Many studies find that labour can be a major impediment to the adoption of organic agriculture.
In some cases, labour and total costs were lower on private organic farms. However, that was by no means true of all projects in which individual farmers were involved. This is especially true in areas with low ecological potential. In the developed world, labour scarcity and costs may deter farmers from adopting organic management systems. However, where labour is not such a constraint, organic agriculture can provide employment opportunities in rural communities.