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Recent studies have highlighted the complex interplay between organic and conventional farming practices, particularly focusing on pesticide use. Research published in @CommsEarth found that pesticide residues from apple orchards in Italy's Vinschgau valley were detected in soils and vegetation across the valley, including remote high-alpine ecosystems and conservation areas. Further investigations revealed that the introduction of new organic fields could inadvertently lead to an increase in pesticide usage in nearby conventional fields. This phenomenon occurs as the insects attracted to organic crops may compel conventional growers to escalate their pesticide application, potentially negating the environmental benefits intended by organic farming. A study in @sciencemagazine elaborated on this by stating that while organic fields can increase pesticide use in adjacent conventional fields, they conversely reduce it in nearby organic fields. The study suggests that clustering organic fields together might diminish overall pesticide use at a landscape level.
