How do yields compare for common crops under each method?

Comparing yields between modern and traditional or sustainable methods is complex, as it involves a trade-off between short-term quantity and long-term stability.

• Modern Farming (Highest Short-Term Yield): For major staple crops like corn, wheat, and rice, modern farming with its use of high-yield hybrid seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides almost always produces the highest yield per acre in a given year. This is its primary advantage.
• Traditional Farming (Lower Yields): Traditional methods typically produce lower yields for common crops. This is due to a reliance on natural rainfall, organic manures which are less nutrient-dense, and seeds that are not genetically optimized for maximum output.
• Sustainable/Organic Farming (Variable Yields): Studies show a yield gap, but it varies. Initially, when transitioning from conventional to organic, yields may drop. However, over the long term, organic systems build soil health and are more resilient to drought and pests. Well-managed sustainable farms can achieve yields that are 80-90% of their conventional counterparts, and in some cases (especially in drought conditions), they can even outperform them due to better soil water retention.